Frankfort, KY – Charles Crawford, a 53-year-old man from Frankfort, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in a Friday sentencing.
A traffic stop on March 19, 2022, led authorities to discover a minor sitting on Crawford’s lap with a sexual device strapped to his leg and methamphetamine present. A search of the car revealed a digital camera containing videos of Crawford sexually assaulting a minor victim.
Crawford pleaded guilty in January 2023 to the charges against him. Under federal law, he must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life. He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victim.
The investigation into Crawford’s crimes was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigation, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the Frankfort Police Department, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth represented the United States in the case.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the government to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
Those involved in the sentencing include: United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky Carlton S. Shier, IV; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation; Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; Chief Dustin Bowman of the Frankfort Police Department; and Sheriff Chris Quire of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The government’s efforts to combat child exploitation and abuse continue to be a top priority. The sentencing of Charles Crawford serves as a reminder of the severity of these crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Austin Lee Gladd Sentenced to 30 Years for Production of Child Pornography, Russell Springs KY, 2023 · Kentucky
- Todd Oravecz, Child Pornography Possession, Kirtland OH, 2023 · Maryland
- Buffalo Man Gets 30 Years for Child Pornography Ring · Tennessee
- Travis Tucker Guilty of Child Pornography Crimes · Kentucky
- Xiang Wang Sentenced to 78 Months for Child Pornography · Kentucky
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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