Palatka Man Indicted on Federal Child Pornography Charges

JACKSONVILLE, FL—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that Travis Rocky Dixon (34, Palatka) was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday on child pornography charges. Dixon is charged with two counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. On each of the receipt counts, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On the possession count, Dixon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment, Travis Rocky Dixon received videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct over the Internet on two separate occasions. Further, he is alleged to have possessed videos of child pornography on a computer hard drive. Dixon was arrested at his residence in Palatka on April 3, 2012. His arraignment and detention hearing is scheduled for April 5, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in Jacksonville before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Morris.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clewiston Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc for more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Nine Defendants Indicted on Federal Drug and Firearm Charges

Two-Year Investigation Targets Cookeville-Area Violent Crime

NASHVILLE, TN—A 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennessee was unsealed today, charging nine defendants with various counts of conspiring to possess and distribute crack cocaine and marijuana; using, carrying, brandishing and discharging firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; sale of a firearm to a convicted felon; and possession of an illegal sawed-off shotgun. The indictments were announced by Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee; Amy S. Hess, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI-Memphis Division; Glenn Anderson, SAC, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)-Nashville Field Division; Randy York, District Attorney General, 13th Judicial District; Mark Gwyn, Director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Putnam County Sheriff David Andrews; and Cookeville Police Chief Bob Terry.

“Once again, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies have come together to root out violent criminals and bring them to justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin. “Our overriding goal is to make all of our communities in the Middle District of Tennessee safer places for our law abiding citizens.”

The indictment charged the following defendants, all of Cookeville, Tennessee:

James Troy Tabor, 20;

Patti Jessica Hall, 22;

Keith Patrick Doherty, Jr., 21;

James Michael Casey O’Howell, 19;

Timothy James Neill, Jr. 25;

Dallas Allen, 50;

Daniel M. Elrod, 22;

Nepthali Damian Dachoute, 21; and

Ryan Jaeger, 21.

Defendants Tabor, Hall, Dachoute, Jaeger and Elrod were arrested this morning by local, state and federal law enforcement officers and are expected to make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate this afternoon. The remaining defendants are currently in state custody.

“The safe and successful arrests today were the culmination of a collective effort between federal and local law enforcement to target violence and the drug trafficking activity which fuels such violence,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Memphis Division, Amy S. Hess. “It’s our goal to disrupt and dismantle organizations like these through cooperation with our partner agencies in order to protect our communities and ensure justice is served.”

“Gun crime, drug trafficking and related violence makes communities fearful that they may become the next victim. Fortunately, intense investigations like this one make all the difference,” stated ATF SAC Glenn Anderson. “Illegal firearm possession and drug trafficking are a detriment to any neighborhood. ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue working investigations like this and hold suspected offenders accountable. Today, residents in the Putnam County area can rest a little easier.”

District Attorney General Randy York stated, “My office stands ready to pool our investigative and prosecutorial resources with our federal partners in order to ensure that justice is appropriately served when this caliber of criminals want to set up shop in our community. We will continue our collective efforts to rid this criminal behavior from our communities.”

The various offenses charged carry maximum penalties of between 10 years and life in prison and fines of $250,000 to $1 million, if convicted.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Cookeville Police Department’s Community Nuisance Eradication Team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division, the 13th Judicial District’s Attorney’s Office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with assistance by the U.S. Marshals and the Overton County Sheriff’s Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent A. Hannafan.

An indictment is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants have the right to a trial at which the government would have to bear the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.