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Press Release

Washington County Couple Sentenced For Using Children To Produce Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Tennessee

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Ronnie Lee McCall, 63, of Johnson City, Tenn., was sentenced on June 6, 2016, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve life in federal prison.  In the unlikely event that he is released from prison, he was ordered to remain under the supervision of U.S. Probation for the remainder of his life.  There is no parole in the federal system.

McCall’s wife, Connie Sue Gentry McCall, 41, also of Johnson City, was previously sentenced in February 2016 by Judge Greer to serve 216 months in federal prison. Upon her release from prison, she will remain under the supervision of U.S. Probation for the remainder of her life.

Connie McCall and Ronnie McCall were charged in a federal indictment after state authorities learned that they sold three girls, ages 12, 14, and 16, to a man who raped and produced child pornography of the girls.  Connie McCall pled guilty to the production of child pornography by a parent and assisted the United States in the prosecution of Ronnie McCall, who was found guilty by a jury of selling a child for illegal sexual activity, producing child pornography, producing child pornography by a parent, and using a means of interstate commerce to entice, persuade, or coerce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.  Evidence presented during his trial showed he established a two-year pattern of sexual abuse of three children, 50 to 60 confirmed rapes, and the production of 400 images of child sexual abuse.

During sentencing Judge Greer noted that this was one of the most horrible crimes he had ever seen committed and scolded Mr. McCall for completely and totally abdicating his responsibility as protector of these children. 

Agencies involved in this investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Division of Child Services, and Johnson City, Tennessee Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Helen Smith and Corey Shipley represented the United States.                             

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Updated June 6, 2016

Topic
Project Safe Childhood