Former Monroe County Chief Deputy Auditor sentenced

Defendant sentenced to 96 months for Possession of Child Pornography

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that James Hans Huffman, 48, of Bloomington was sentenced to 96 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography by the Honorable Sarah Evans Barker. Huffman served as the Chief Deputy Auditor for Monroe County, Indiana from 2017-2018, and Chief Deputy Treasurer for Monroe County, Indiana from 2009-2017.

The case began when the Bloomington Police Department uncovered that Huffman and a 16-year-old male were utilizing social media applications to text and send nude pictures and videos back and forth between one another. Shortly thereafter, a search warrant was executed at Huffman’s home and authorities would later find a large, highly organized collection of child pornography. Huffman’s collection included imagery of toddlers, bondage and sadomasochistic conduct, and bestiality. In total, his collection included 230,000 individual child pornography pictures and movies.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting children from predators like Huffman,” said Minkler. “Anyone who preys upon a child, no matter what public office they hold, will be held fully accountable under the law.”

This case was jointly investigated by the Southern District of Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana State Police, and the Bloomington Police Department.

“When the most vulnerable of our citizens – our children - are victimized we will always ensure we do everything in our power to protect them and get predators such as this off the street,” said Danny Youmara, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “This sentence is a great example of the importance of the FBI’s partnerships – in this case with the Bloomington Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office – and how we combined resources and investigative efforts to ensure the safety of the children in the community.”

“Indiana State Police investigators work diligently every day, all across Indiana, and in collaboration with its law enforcement partners, to bring to justice those who seek to capitalize on the victimization of children,” commented Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley P. Shepard. According to AUSA Shepard, Huffman will be on supervised release for 10 years following his release from prison; he was fined $5,000, and will have to register as a sex offender.

            In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with law enforcement agencies to prosecute individuals engaged in the sexual exploitation of children. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.2.