NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
March 26, 2008
WARREN COUNTY MAN CHARGED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN A MULTI-STATE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RING
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Michael Wayne Anderson, age 34, of Warren County, Virginia, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Charlottesville, Virginia on a thirteen-count, superseding indictment that charges him with being involved in a multi-state crime ring that produced, received and distributed child pornography.
“As our most vulnerable and innocent citizens, it is imperative that we as a law enforcement community do everything in our power to protect our children from the type of abuses we see in this case,” U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee said today. “Thanks to the work of the FBI and the other state and federal agencies and prosecutors involved in this investigation, this defendant will face prosecution for the crimes he has been charged with.”
According to the second superseding indictment, returned today, Anderson conspired with unnamed members of the crime ring between 2005 and 2007 to use instant messaging, video messaging, text messaging and video chat software to communicate and share sexual interests in children. As part of the conspiracy, the indictment charges, Anderson and the others produced child pornography showing themselves engaged in illegal sexual activity with minors. Anderson and his co-conspirators would then, allegedly, transmit images of these crimes to one another in real-time using webcam broadcasts.
In addition to being charged with one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive child pornography, Anderson is also charged with two counts of production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, two counts of aiding and abetting the transportation of child pornography, two counts of aiding and abetting the receipt of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The indictment also contains a count seeking the forfeiture of property used in these crimes.
If convicted on all counts, Anderson faces a life prison sentence and a fine of up to $3 million.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Healey for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney James Silver of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.