SAVANNAH: Edmund A. Booth, Jr., Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Savannah, Georgia, has returned a four-count indictment against Ryan M. Verch, age 25, a soldier stationed at the Fort Stewart Military Reservation. Verch was charged with one count of aggravated sexual abuse, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2241; one count of using a child to produce images of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251; one count of transporting child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(1); and one count of possessing child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5).

The defendant was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge G.R. Smith on Tuesday, June 19, 2007. A detention hearing was also scheduled, and after hearing evidence about the charges, Magistrate Judge Smith ordered that the defendant be detained pending trial.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of any years to life for the aggravated sexual abuse charge; a sentence of at least fifteen (15) and not more than thirty (30) years for the charge relating to the production of child pornography; at least five (5) and not more than twenty (20) years for the charge of transporting child pornography; and not more than ten (10) years imprisonment for the charge of possessing child pornography. Each charge also has a maximum fine of $250,000, and makes the defendant eligible for a term of supervised release of any years to life. In addition, the defendant would also be subject to a $100 mandatory assessment on each count.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Booth noted that this indictment was the result of a joint investigative effort by the United States Army Criminal Investigative Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The lead investigators are Special Agent Aaron Green of the Army Criminal Investigative Divsion and Special Agent Joshua Hayes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Booth emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen K. Marsh.

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