Eagle Grove Man Indicted on Child Pornography, False Statement Charges

United States Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth announced today that DAVID STEPHENS, age 22, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, has been charged with two counts of transporting child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography, two counts of possessing child pornography, and one count of making a false statement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The charges are contained in an Indictment unsealed today in United States District Court in Sioux City.

The Indictment alleges that, between March 2006, and September 2006, STEPHENS transported, received, and possessed child pornography. The Indictment also alleges that, on September 15, 2006, STEPHENS made a false statement to the FBI.

If convicted of transportation or receipt of child pornography, STEPHENS faces a possible sentence on each count of five to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and supervised release for five years to life following any imprisonment. If convicted of possession of child pornography, STEPHENS faces a possible maximum sentence on each count of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and supervised release for five years to life following any imprisonment. If convicted of making a false statement to the FBI, STEPHENS faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and supervised release for three years following any imprisonment.

STEPHENS appeared today in federal court in Sioux City and was released on bond. STEPHENS’ trial is set for December 7, 2009.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.