Javier Clark Moreno, Child Pornography, South Dakota 2021

Rapid City Man Charged with Child Pornography

A Rapid City man has been indicted on federal charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. Javier Clark Moreno, 40, was indicted on May 20, 2021, by a federal grand jury.

According to Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes, the charges relate to Moreno receiving and possessing child pornography between October 2020 and February 2021, at Rapid City. The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s office.

Moreno was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. The charges against him include Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. If convicted, Moreno faces a mandatory minimum of 5 up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Moreno pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins.

The charges against Moreno are merely an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation into child pornography is ongoing, and the public is urged to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 5 up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

A joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s office led to the indictment of Moreno. The case highlights the importance of reporting suspicious activity and the ongoing efforts to combat child pornography.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/rapid-city-man-indicted-child-pornography-charges-9