Federal Grand Jury Indicts Birmingham College Student on Child Pornography Charges

BIRMINGHAM - A federal grand jury in March indicted a Birmingham college student for Advertisement, Sale, and Possession of Child Pornography announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. 

A five-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court, charges DAVID DRAKE, 19, with advertising child pornography on the internet and selling those images and videos on the internet.  Drake is charged with 1-count of advertisement of child pornography and 2-counts of sale of child pornography.  Drake is also charged with 2 counts of possession of child pornography. 

“Our law enforcement will continue to vigilantly monitor the internet using all available resources available to uncover child exploitation and abuse,” Town said.  “These predators need to know that they will be arrested, prosecuted and once convicted, sentenced to time in a federal prison where there is no possibility for parole.”

The maximum penalty for advertisement of child pornography is a maximum of 30 years in prison.

The maximum penalty for the sale of child pornography is 20 years in prison. 

The maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is 20 years in prison since the collection of images and videos include children under the age of 12 years.

FBI Birmingham Division Child Exploitation Task Force along with ALEA investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.