Newark Man Indicted on Federal Child Pornography Charges

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Wilmington returned an indictment on December 7 charging Melvin Janvier, III, 34, of Newark, Delaware, with distributing and possessing child pornography during July 2021.

Janvier has been in state custody since his July 20, 2021 arrest. If convicted, Janvier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, with a maximum penalty of 40 years’ incarceration. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “The production, distribution, and collection of child pornography is a heinous shadow industry that targets the most vulnerable among us – our children.  Our office is dedicated to combatting this abhorrent industry and bringing those who lurk in its shadows to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Squad of the FBI Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.