Monday, July 23, 2018

Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography

A Laurel, Maryland man pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography today, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland.

Charles Bertsch, 59, a security guard at a local university, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Paul W. Grimm for the District of Maryland who will sentence him on Jan. 31, 2019.

According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, FBI Task force agents in Maryland began an investigation into Bertsch after various law enforcement agencies downloaded child pornography via a peer-to-peer network from IP addresses which led back to the defendant. In an interview with law enforcement, Bertsch acknowledged that by connecting his computer and downloading such images, he was simultaneously enabling others to download child pornography from his hard drive. A forensic examination of Bertsch’s electronic devices, seized pursuant to a search warrant, revealed over 100,000 image files and over 2,000 video files of child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Field Office with assistance from the Baltimore County Police Department, Washington County Sheriff's Office, and Worcester County Sheriff's Office. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin of the District of Maryland.

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 CEOS, 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.justice.gov/psc.

Topic(s):

Project Safe Childhood

Component(s):

Criminal Division

Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

USAO - Maryland

Press Release Number:

18-968

Updated July 23, 2018

Project Safe Childhood - Department of Justice initiative

Project Safe Childhood is the Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for physical sexual contact is well-known and serious. The danger of perpetrators who produce, distribute and possess child pornography is equally dramatic and disturbing. There is often an international dimension to these crimes – for example, some offenders travel to victimize children outside of the United States or view live video streams (in addition to recorded still and video images) of children being abused in foreign countries.

The department is committed to the safety and well-being of every child and has placed a high priority on combating sexual exploitation of minors. Through a network of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation.

The department expanded Project Safe Childhood in May 2011 to encompass all federal crimes involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, including sex trafficking of a minor and crimes against children committed in Indian country. Failure to register as a sex offender offenses now also fall within the ambit of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is implemented through partnerships with numerous stakeholders, including: U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys; the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces; federal law enforcement partners, including the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); advocacy organizations such as the National Institute of Justice; and state, local, tribal and military law enforcement officials.

READ THE PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD FACT SHEET

Delaware Man Sentenced to Prison for Production of Child Pornography

A Dover, Delaware man was sentenced to 25 years in prison today for production of child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss of the District of Delaware.

Daniel Arthur Hill, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography on Nov. 9, 2017. U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet of the District of Delaware sentenced Hill to serve 300 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.

According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Hill was arrested by the Delaware State Police Department for solicitation of a minor on Dec. 16, 2015. Hill had met a person online who he believed was a 14-year-old girl and with whom he had arranged to engage in sexual intercourse. Following his arrest, a court-authorized search of Hill’s electronic devices revealed evidence that Hill had produced images of child pornography depicting two minors under the age of 12. Hill had also distributed child pornography to others via online chat groups. On Aug. 11, 2016, Hill was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for enticement of a minor and for possession, production, and distribution of child pornography.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Delaware State Police investigated this case. Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham L. Robinson of the District of Delaware prosecuted the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Kathryn Furtado also served as a vital member of the prosecution team at earlier stages of the litigation.

Topic(s):

Project Safe Childhood

Component(s):

Criminal Division

Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

USAO - Delaware

Press Release Number:

18-965

Updated July 23, 2018

DOJ - Sexual Harassment In Housing Initiative

Public Service Announcement – Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal

The Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is an effort to combat sexual harassment in housing led by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. The goal of the Initiative is to address sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. If you or someone you know has been sexually harassed by someone connected to housing, contact us to tell us about this experience.

For more information about the work of the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, read press releases, articles, and information about recent cases. To learn more about sexual harassment in housing, explore the information on this site.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Virginia Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking a Minor and Producing Child Pornography

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 20, 2018

A Virginia man was sentenced today to 186 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for multiple crimes related to the prostitution and exploitation of a 15-year-old minor. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia, and Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement after the sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia.

Abdul Karim Bangura Jr. aka “AJ”, 22, of Triangle, Virginia pleaded guilty in August 2017 to all counts of an indictment charging him with sex trafficking of a minor, conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, interstate transportation of a minor for the purposes of prostitution, and production of child pornography.

According to admissions made in connection with his plea, Bangura and his co-defendant Christian Hood conspired to recruit a 15-year-old girl to work as a prostitute and to advertise her prostitution services on Backpage.com. Bangura also transported the minor to hotels in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. for prostitution dates, and he took a portion of the money she made from commercial sex customers. Bangura also used a phone to record a video of himself having sex with the minor. In August 2017, Hood was convicted at trial of sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of this same minor.

This matter was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the Prince William County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen C. Cain of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kyle P. Reynolds of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.justice.gov/psc.

Topic(s):

Project Safe Childhood

Component(s):

Criminal Division

Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

USAO - Virginia, Eastern

Press Release Number:

18-559

Updated July 20, 2018

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Family Of Pedophiles Raped Kids For 30 Years Before Being Caught

By Holly Christodoulou, The Sun

A sick family raped children during a 30-year campaign of abuse branded the “worst ever case of its kind” by a judge.

Twisted Antony Potts and three members of his family carried out a string of child abuse offenses over the course of three decades.

The 49-year-old was described as a “deeply depraved man” as he was jailed for life at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was convicted of 13 counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of inciting a child to perform a sexual act and cruelty.

Antony was joined in the docket by his dad, Keith Potts, who was caged for eight years alongside his wife, Julie, both for child cruelty.

Antony’s wife, Elaine, and family friend Joanne Hoye were also both jailed for four years after pleading guilty to neglect.

Brother Joshua Potts admitted to multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against children, while his sibling Nathan, 26, was jailed for 16 years for two counts of rape of a child, four counts of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sex with another adult.

Jailing Antony Potts, Judge Carr told him: “You are a deeply depraved man who has taken many, many opportunities to abuse children and corrupt them.“

These are horrendous offenses.

“In 50 years practice and presiding over cases like this, I cannot think of a worse one.”

The court heard how the sickening abuse first came to light in 1989 when a girl came forward and told cops what Antony had done to her.

But the case was never brought to trial and in May 2015, three more children – all aged under 14 – said they had been abused by Antony and others.

Police were once again called but it was decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. However, the case was reopened in January 2016 when a fifth victim came forward.

The full extent of the abuse began to unravel and a further three victims were identified – meaning the vile family could be brought to trial.

Jurors were read emotional victim impact statements giving harrowing details of how the victims were “groomed and brainwashed” by their abusers.

One said the abuse had a “major impact” on her life and she felt she was “let down as a child” by the police.

She also said she has suffered from “constant and daily panic attacks,” has post-traumatic stress disorder and has “reduced self-worth.”

Another victim said: “I want Antony to go to prison all his life so he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Joshua Potts will be sentenced in August.

A sick family raped children during a 30-year campaign of abuse branded the “worst ever case of its kind” by a judge.

Twisted Antony Potts and three members of his family carried out a string of child abuse offenses over the course of three decades.

The 49-year-old was described as a “deeply depraved man” as he was jailed for life at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was convicted of 13 counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of inciting a child to perform a sexual act and cruelty.

Antony was joined in the docket by his dad, Keith Potts, who was caged for eight years alongside his wife, Julie, both for child cruelty.

Antony’s wife, Elaine, and family friend Joanne Hoye were also both jailed for four years after pleading guilty to neglect.

Jailing Antony Potts, Judge Carr told him: “You are a deeply depraved man who has taken many, many opportunities to abuse children and corrupt them.

“These are horrendous offenses.

“In 50 years practice and presiding over cases like this, I cannot think of a worse one.”

The court heard how the sickening abuse first came to light in 1989 when a girl came forward and told cops what Antony had done to her.

But the case was never brought to trial and in May 2015, three more children – all aged under 14 – said they had been abused by Antony and others.

Police were once again called but it was decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. However, the case was reopened in January 2016 when a fifth victim came forward.

The full extent of the abuse began to unravel and a further three victims were identified – meaning the vile family could be brought to trial.

Jurors were read emotional victim impact statements giving harrowing details of how the victims were “groomed and brainwashed” by their abusers.

One said the abuse had a “major impact” on her life and she felt she was “let down as a child” by the police.

She also said she has suffered from “constant and daily panic attacks,” has post-traumatic stress disorder and has “reduced self-worth.”

Another victim said: “I want Antony to go to prison all his life so he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Joshua Potts will be sentenced in August.

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Trinity Mount Ministries

Monday, July 23, 2018

Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography

Project Safe Childhood - Department of Justice initiative

Delaware Man Sentenced to Prison for Production of Child Pornography

DOJ - Sexual Harassment In Housing Initiative

Friday, July 20, 2018

Virginia Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking a Minor and Producing Child Pornography

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Family Of Pedophiles Raped Kids For 30 Years Before Being Caught

Report It

Report Child sexual exploitation

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Brett Fletcher - Founder of Trinity Mount Ministries, MHRS, MS.Psy, Th.G