Federal Grand Jury in Greenville Returns Indictments

United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned indictments against the following:

Spartanburg Resident Indicted for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

Robert L. Bullard, III, age 59, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count indictment with possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B), and distribution of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2). The maximum penalty Bullard could receive is 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the possession charge, and not less than five years and not more than 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the distribution charge. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Travelers Rest Resident Indicted for Possession and Receipt of Child Pornography

Walter T. Alexander, age 30, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count indictment with possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B), and receipt of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2). The maximum penalty Alexander could receive is 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the possession charge, and not less than five years and not more than 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the receipt charge. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Easley Resident Indicted for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

James A. Newton, age 54, of Easley, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count indictment with possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B), and distribution of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2). The maximum penalty Newton could receive is 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the possession charge, and not less than five years and not more than 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for the distribution charge. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Two Individuals Indicted for Conspiring to Steal Mail

Dean B. Dalenko, age 43, and Jennifer M. McCullough, age 39, were charged in a one-count indictment with conspiracy to steal mail and possess stolen mail, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The maximum penalty Dalenko and McCullough could receive is five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.00. The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Foreign Nationals Charged with Illegal Re-Entry

ALICIA CRUZ-CRUZ, SANTIAGO ALONSO-RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS GERRA-MARUQUIN, SERGIO JARDON-MILLAN, GUILLERMO GONZALEZ-CAMACHO, and DARWIN SANCHEZ-MORALES are each charged in indictments with illegal re-entry to the United States, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. The maximum penalty each could receive, depending on their prior criminal history, is two to 20 years’ imprisonment. These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and are assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Individual Indicted for Social Security Fraud

EDITH LOZADA-COLOHUA was charged in an indictment with social security fraud, a violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408. The maximum penalty she could receive is five years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Individual Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

DOUGLAS WILLIAMS was charged in a one-count indictment with failure to register as a sex offender, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250. The maximum penalty he could receive is 10 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Bluffton Resident Charged with Wire Fraud

Michael L. Wolfenbarger, age 41, of Bluffton, South Carolina, was charged in a three-count indictment with wire fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The maximum penalty Wolfenbarger could receive is 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.