Martin County Residents Plead Guilty to Producing and Distributing Child Pornography

Joshua Lane Rogers, 34, and Richard William Lockley, 34, both of Stuart, pled guilty to producing pornography of a teenage victim.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Ken Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office (SLCSO), and William D. Snyder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), made the announcement. 

On March 22, 2018, Rogers pled guilty to two counts of production of visual depictions of sexual exploitation of minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e); and one count of distribution production of visual depictions of sexual exploitation of minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1).  On January 17, 2018, Lockley pled to one count of production of visual depictions of sexual exploitation of minors.  If convicted of the production or distribution charges, Rogers and Lockley face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum 30 year prison term, a lifetime of supervised release, and will be required to register as sex offenders.

According to the court record, on September 3, 2017, SLCSO deputies responded to a “Missing Person Juvenile/ Runaway” call for a missing 16-year-old minor.   On September 27, 2017, Rogers was located with the minor victim.  The investigation revealed that Rogers met the victim on-line and had the victim stay at his residence. A forensic analysis of Roger’s cellular smart phone revealed he had recorded sexually explicit activity with the minor victim on numerous occasions.  Rogers distributed many of the captured images and videos to other individuals, via MMS text communications, a social media networking program, and in the personal section of a Treasure Coast  website. 

Rogers and Lockley, together at Rogers’ residence, also produced a video depicting sexually explicit conduct and activity with the minor victim.

Lockley is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20, 2018 at 1 p.m., in Ft. Pierce and Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 11 (link is external) a.m. in Miami, before U.S. District Court Senior Judge Donald L. Graham.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, SLCSO and the MCSO for their work on this case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.