Federal criminal complaint charges Evans man with possession of child pornography

Charge filed after cyber tip alerted FBI

AUGUSTA, GA:  An Evans man was charged in U.S. District Court with possession of child pornography.

Oludare Oluwabusi, 43, of Evans, was taken into custody after FBI agents searched his residence based on a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Oluwabusi appeared by video before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps Wednesday in an initial appearance hearing, at which Judge Epps agreed to the prosecutor’s request that Oluwabusi remain in custody pending further court appearances.

“The criminal element thinks the national pause brought on by COVID-19 has limited law enforcement activity. Quite the opposite has occurred in the Southern District of Georgia where law enforcement never sleeps, as the good people in Columbia County witnessed last evening when they saw the vigilance of the FBI on display,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners are using the lowered guard of bad guys as a way to get in their flank and disrupt their enterprises all over south Georgia at this very minute.”

“Every time an individual possesses pornographic images of children and views them for personal gratification, the children in those images are victimized again and again,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a priority to protect our most vulnerable citizens, our children.”

Criminal complaints contain only charges. Defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The FBI is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

Victims of Sexual Harassment in Housing Encouraged to Report Wrongdoing

Landlords who Exploit Tenants During Pandemic to be Held Accountable

Today, Peter E. Deegan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, announced that he will be using all available tools to combat sexual harassment in housing.  The United States Attorney’s Office will target unscrupulous landlords who attempt to take advantage of the pandemic by demanding sexual favors or sexually harassing tenants who, because of the pandemic or for any other reason, are unable to make timely rent payments.

As a result of the measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19, many Iowans have lost jobs or wages.  Some tenants may be unable to make rent payments.  While many landlords have responded with understanding, there are reports of landlords across the country who have attempted to exploit the crisis by responding to cash-strapped tenants with demands for sex acts or inappropriate sexual favors.  Such conduct is not only despicable and wrong, it is illegal.

“My office will work with all available partners, including state, local, and tribal officials, to address sexual harassment in housing, especially during this national crisis,” said Peter E. Deegan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.  “We will use every means at our disposal to investigate, prosecute, and hold responsible anyone who sexually harasses tenants or prospective tenants.  Combatting sexual harassment associated with housing has been a priority for the Department of Justice for years and it remains a priority during this unique time in history.  Such conduct cannot be tolerated.”

To report instances of sexual harassment in housing, individuals with knowledge of wrongdoing can call the Department of Justice’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178 or email fairhousing@usdoj.gov.  More information is also available at www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative and www.justice.gov/crt/page/file/1048341/download.

Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported

Was Convicted of Child Endangerment and Domestic Abuse Causing Bodily Injury in December 2019

A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison.

Avelino Zacarias-Bail, age 27, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 9, 2020 guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.

At the guilty plea, Zacarias-Bail admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in December 2015 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.  In August 2019, Zacarias-Bail’s illegal presence in the United States came to the attention of immigration agents following his arrest in Black Hawk County, Iowa, on state criminal charges.  Zacarias-Bail was later convicted in December 2019 of child endangerment and domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury. 

Zacarias-Bail was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Zacarias-Bail was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Zacarias-Bail is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.