Former US Navy Seaman Convicted in Child Pornography Case

WASHINGTON – A federal jury in the Eastern District of Michigan has convicted former U.S. Navy Seaman James Driver, 24, of Midland, Mich., on one count of possession of child pornography. The conviction was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

According to court documents and testimony presented during the trial, the case originated from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigation into an individual suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing network. Driver, who at the time was a U.S. Navy seaman stationed in Japan, admitted in an interview to being interested in child pornography for the past five years.

At sentencing, Driver faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2012.

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. The initiative 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 case is being prosecuted by CEOS Trial Attorneys Thomas Franzinger and Mi Yung Park. The case was investigated by NCIS and CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit. Assistance was provided by the FBI’s Innocent Images Unit.

Driver’s conviction is a significant blow to those who seek to exploit and harm children. The Justice Department remains committed to protecting children from predators and bringing those responsible to justice.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Defendant: James Driver, 24, of Midland, Michigan

Criminal Charges: Possession of child pornography

City and State: Midland, Michigan

Exact Date: None specified, but sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2012

Sentence: Up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release

Dollar Amounts: $250,000 fine

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