Former Attica High School Assistant Track Coach Sentenced to 24 Years' in Federal Prison

INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Jeremy Kelley, 41, of Attica, Indiana, was sentenced in federal court, by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker, to 24 years’ in federal prison, after having previously pleaded guilty to charges of production and possession of child pornography.

"Kelley is a child predator who deliberately sought out a high school coaching position intentionally placing himself near children," said Minkler. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting individuals, like Kelley, who choose to sexually exploit children and who knowingly abuse positions of public trust."

The investigation began on January 16, 2018, when the Montgomery Sheriff’s Department opened a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTip. Included in the tip were 18 images depicting pre-pubescent females exposing their genitals, engaged in sex acts, and erotic poses. These images were contained in a Dropbox account created by Jeremy Kelley. In compliance with a search warrant executed by law enforcement, Dropbox provided detectives with a mass storage device, which contained over 16,563 image and video files of mostly child pornography.

On June 29, 2018, following the execution of a search warrant at Kelley’s residence, Kelley consented to a search of his iPhone SE. Kelley admitted to receiving and possessing child pornography on his iPhone SE. The iPhone contained 451 videos and 27,000 images of mostly child pornography, including prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, agents discovered the e-mail address associated with Kelley’s Dropbox account and his Dropbox application.

Also during the search, law enforcement discovered files depicting a minor victim (Minor Victim 1) engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Kelley surreptitiously produced child pornography of Minor Victim 1 between in or about June 8, 2018, and June 18, 2018. Minor Victim 1 was in Kelley’s care, custody, and control at the time of the recordings. Kelley admitted that he produced child pornography of Minor Victim 1 because he had a sexual interest in Minor Victim 1, and that he collected, and distributed child pornography collection because he had a sexual interest in children.

Kelley was arrested on July 1, 2018 by way of complaint and was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 21, 2018. Jeremy Kelley worked as an Assistant Track Coach at Attica High School at the time of his arrest.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Montgomery Sheriff’s Department.

"This sentence should send a strong message to those who would perpetrate such heinous crimes against children – the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to identify, investigate and prosecute those who engage in these illegal activities," said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall, FBI Indianapolis.

"The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the relationships we have with the FBI, NCMEC, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all of our other law enforcement partners," said Sheriff Ryan Needham. "We continually strive to make Montgomery County, and the state of Indiana, a better and safer place for our citizens, and making an arrest like this makes all of us safer."

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case for the government, Kelley will serve 20 years’ supervised release following his prison sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with law enforcement agencies to prosecute individuals engaged in the sexual exploitation of children. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.1.