United States Attorney’s Office Continues Fight to Protect Hoosier Children

INDIANAPOLIS—Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, today reaffirmed his office’s commitment to the prosecution of child pornography traffickers. “This office takes very seriously the trafficking in child pornography,” stated Hogsett. “The reduction of violent crime in Indiana is a top priority of this office, and we intend to continue to protect Hoosier children and families by the aggressive prosecution of any federal crime against children.”

“Child pornography is a horrible victimization of the children depicted, and endangers children everywhere by fueling the twisted fantasies of those who view and traffic in these images,” continued Hogsett. “Over the last six months, my staff has worked very hard with our federal, state and local partners to protect Hoosier children, filing charges against more than twenty individuals, and investigating and breaking up multiple conspiracies to exploit children that are international in scope. I am proud of the work we have done in this area, and we intend to continue this worthy cause.”

Hogsett pointed to the charging of three individuals in recent days in Jeffersonville and Madison as an example of some of the work his staff has done in this area. On February 28, 2011, Gregory Lacey, 38, Jeffersonville, Ind., was charged with transportation and possession of child pornography. The information alleges that Lacey transported child pornography images into Illinois through the Internet in October 2010, and that he possessed other child pornography images on his computer in December 2010. The investigation leading to the charges against Lacey was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Fishers, Noblesville and Carmel Police Departments.

Another Jeffersonville resident, Matthew Ohlmann, 29, was charged March 3, 2011 with receipt and possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint alleges that Ohlmann engaged in internet chat with a woman residing in the State of Washington, and received images from her depicting her molesting children in May 2010. The Complaint further alleges that Ohlmann possessed child pornography when his residence was search by law enforcement on March 3, 2011, and that he trafficked in child pornography with other individuals. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Indiana State Police, Kokomo Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Finally, Hogsett also pointed to the charging of Jason Helm, 30, of Madison, Ind., who was charged on March 2, 2011, with transportation of child pornography. The criminal complaint in that matter alleges that in April 2010, Helm emailed child pornography, including images of children appearing to be under two years of age, to an individual residing in the State of Georgia. The complaint further alleged that Helm possessed those images and other child pornography images when his residence was searched by the Indiana State Police in late December 2010. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Indiana State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Brant Cook and Steven DeBrota, who are prosecuting these cases for the government, each of these individuals faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and the possibility of supervised release (parole) for up to the rest of their lives. Initial hearings for Helm and Ohlmann were held in New Albany, Ind. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Naville on March 3, 2011. Lacey will make his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Naville on March 23, 2011.

Both criminal complaints and informations are only a charge and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.