Atlanta, GA - DOUGLAS YUTAKA RHOADES, 42, a security guard from Jonesboro, Georgia, has been charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography and impersonation of a federal agent. In a detention and preliminary hearing this afternoon, United States Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman found probable cause supporting the charges and ordered RHOADES detained pending trial.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, "The criminals who exploit children often use guile and trickery, rather than brute force, to convince their young victims to engage in sexual activity. We are extremely concerned about the threat posed to children by someone who allegedly posed as an FBI agent investigating child exploitation -- someone we need our children, as well as adults, to trust if we are going to be able to identify victims and arrest offenders. We urge any victims or other citizens with knowledge of this alleged scheme to contact the FBI, and we pledge to vigorously prosecute this disturbing case."

FBI Atlanta Special Agent In Charge Greg Jones said of the case, "Impersonation cases such as this makes the already difficult job of law enforcement more difficult. The FBI makes every effort toward building and maintaining the public's trust and Rhoades’ alleged used of falsified FBI credentials in furtherance of child pornography activities is almost incomprehensible."

According to Nahmias, the federal criminal complaint, and other information presented in court today: Clayton County Police were investigating allegations of child molestation involving RHOADES when a witness informed the police that RHOADES stated that he was a Special Agent of the FBI assigned to the cyber division and was working in an undercover capacity. According to another witness, RHOADES claimed to be an FBI Agent working on a child pornography investigation. Clayton County Police contacted the FBI, who informed the police that RHOADES is not and has never been an FBI employee.

Judge Baverman signed a complaint and arrest warrant charging RHOADES with falsely claiming to be a federal officer. When agents arrested RHOADES in his vehicle on January 24, 2008, they found a fraudulent FBI badge and fraudulent FBI credentials. They also found approximately 75 computer discs with handwritten labels such as “Teens Pics Disc,” “Web Teens I,” and “Teen Models.” FBI Special Agents obtained a search warrant and began to search these discs as well as RHOADES’ computers for possible evidence that he possessed child pornography. An initial search of just some of these items revealed numerous images of prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

In a brief meeting with the news media after today’s hearing, United States Attorney Nahmias and representatives of the FBI indicated that there may be more victims of RHOADES’ fraudulent impersonation of a federal agent and possible child exploitation victims. They made a photograph available to the news media to disseminate to the public to assist in the location of possible victims. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI’s Safe Child Task Force at 404-679-9000.

Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's 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.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Safe Images Task Force. Substantial assistance has been provided in this case by the Clayton County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul Jones is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.