Wilmington Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a Federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned an eleven-count indictment charging RICARDO JEROME BENNETT, SR., age 47, of Wilmington, North Carolina, with ten counts of Receipt of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.

The indictment alleges that, beginning at a time unknown and ending on December 19, 2014, BENNETT received at least ten images containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The indictment further alleges that on December 19, 2014, BENNETT was found to be in possession of digital media containing images and videos involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

If convicted of these charges, BENNETT would face a maximum of twenty years’ imprisonment and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Belle Kessler is prosecuting the case for the government.