Brian C. Keeling, Child Pornography, Ohio 2016

Brian C. Keeling, 34, of Cleveland, Ohio, has been charged with federal child pornography crimes in a shocking indictment announced by U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon.

According to the indictment, Keeling knowingly made and caused to be made a notice and advertisement seeking and offering to receive, exchange, display and distribute any visual depiction of a real minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The notice and advertisement were transported using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce by any means including by computer.

Additionally, the indictment charges that Keeling knowingly received and distributed, using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and which files had been shipped and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce.

The indictment also alleges that on or about December 6, 2016, Keeling possessed a ZTE cellular phone and a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, each of which contained child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon emphasized that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Brian C. Keeling, 34, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted, Keeling's sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including his prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Cleveland office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.

Keeling is currently facing serious charges, including advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The exact outcome of this case has yet to be determined.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/cleveland-man-indicted-child-pornography-charges-0