Charlotte Man Hendricks Guilty of Child Porn

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jose Antonio Hendricks, 59, of Charlotte, has been found guilty by a federal jury of sickening crimes against children. Hendricks was convicted on charges of possession, receipt, and transportation of child pornography after a two-day trial concluded this week, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, R. Andrew Murray.

The case, investigated by the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Squad, revealed a disturbing pattern of online activity. Court documents show that law enforcement first flagged Hendricks’ IP address on October 14, 2014, as participating in a peer-to-peer network dedicated to the distribution of child pornography. Over the following months, between October 2014 and February 2015, authorities connected to the IP address roughly 70 times, repeatedly confirming Hendricks was actively sharing and receiving illegal content.

“Child predators often seek shelter in the anonymity the internet offers to exploit and harm innocent children,” stated U.S. Attorney Murray. “This is a global epidemic that we must confront with an aggressive, technology-driven response. Today’s guilty verdict sends a message that the internet is no longer a safe haven for those who engage in child sexual exploitation. Online predators will be located, prosecuted and ultimately removed from society and away from vulnerable children.”

On March 12, 2015, federal agents executed a search warrant at Hendricks’ residence. The search yielded a tablet and its SD card, which, upon forensic examination, were found to be loaded with numerous images of child pornography. Investigators also discovered evidence Hendricks was accessing websites featuring deeply disturbing and sadistic content involving children.

Hendricks now faces a substantial prison sentence. The charges for transportation of child pornography and receipt of child pornography each carry a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The charges related to possession and accessing child pornography also carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cortney Randall and William Stetzer are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the escalating problem of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, as well as to rescue victims. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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