Delvan Jerrod Howard, Production of Child Pornography, Mississippi 2021

A chilling tale of child exploitation has unfolded in Jackson, Mississippi, as authorities brought a notorious individual to justice.

Delvan Jerrod Howard, a 43-year-old resident of Jackson, has pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography.

According to court documents, in April 2021, Howard video recorded himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor.

The heinous act has left a trail of trauma and devastation in its wake.

The investigation led by the Mississippi Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has brought Hope to the community.

Howard was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2022.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Mississippi, and the FBI have worked tirelessly to bring Howard to justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench made the announcement.

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.

Led by U.S. 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.

The community is coming together to support the victims and their families.

The FBI and local authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward and help bring those responsible to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/jackson-man-pleads-guilty-production-child-pornography