FRUITLAND MAN INDICTED FOR PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Indictment Seeks Forfeiture of Defendant’s House

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted Russell Glenn Burnett, age 44, of Fruitland, Maryland, today for production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

“Anyone who photographs a child engaged in sexual activity faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “We hope that forfeiting any property used in the commission of such crimes will help to deter violations and provide restitution for victims.”

The indictment alleges that on approximately June 9, 2005, Burnett coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual image of the conduct. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of property used to commit the crime, including a residence in the 100 block of Parsonage Street in Fruitland.

Burnett faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for production of child pornography, followed by supervised release up to life. Burnett is currently detained on related state charges. No federal court appearance has been scheduled.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov./ Details about Maryland’s program are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Maryland State Police, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis and his office, Wicomico County State’s Attorney Davis Ruark and Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes and the Wicomico Child Advocacy Center for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham, who is prosecuting the case.