Sunday, August 21, 2011

Child Pornography Sentencing

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces the sentencing of Joseph Aaron Reese, age 32, of Columbus, Georgia, for violations of Title 18 United States Code, Section 2252 (a) (2), receipt of child pornography. On August 16, 2011, United States District Court Judge Clay D. Land sentenced Reese to 240 months in prison and a mandatory assessment fee of $100. Reese received the maximum sentence provided by law and was immediately taken into custody.

In January 2011, Reese admitted that he had solicited and received compromising photographs from underage females over the Internet. Posing as a talent scout, Reese requested the photos on the social networking site MySpace. He offered modeling contracts to girls who responded to his requests. Originally, Reese asked for pictures of the girls fully clothed, but later his requests became more graphic. When he received semi-nude photos, he threatened the girls with posting their photos online if they failed to send even more graphic and sadist depictions. Reese carried out this threat at least once, subjecting the victim to humiliation when her friends and classmates saw the posted photos. Agents identified at least seven victims in Reese’s scheme.

U.S. Attorney Moore said, “Mr. Reese preyed on the dreams of his victims, and then threatened and blackmailed them. He is a predator and deserves to be in prison. This case reminds us that, as parents, we should know what our children are doing, and who they are communicating with on the computer.”

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mel Hyde.

For additional information contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602.

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