PORTLAND, Maine: Michael Posey, a 50-year-old man from Kent, Washington, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for advertising child pornography on the dark web.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker handed down the sentence, which will be followed by seven years of supervised release. Posey pleaded guilty to the charges on August 29, 2024.
In a statement, Judge Walker noted that communities like the one Posey participated in are responsible for creating a supply chain that satisfies the demand for child pornography, resulting in ‘generational emotional destruction’ on vulnerable members of society.
According to court records, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Portland, Maine, were investigating a dark web site dedicated to the sexual abuse of children in early 2024. Agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Posey, that held a moderator position and was responsible for approving posts submitted by others.
The profile included a password that individuals could use to access files and links provided by the user. A review of the profile’s history revealed a history of postings dating back to December 2021. Agents logged into the site and accessed a zipped file containing numerous videos, including those of young children.
HSI agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s residence in April 2024 and interviewed him. Posey confirmed that he used the profile on the dark web site and provided agents with his login information.
U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee stated, ‘Mr. Posey helped to create and benefited from a marketplace predicated on vulnerable victims being abused.’ She emphasized that peddling child pornography is not a victimless crime and that child sexual abuse material captures the real, traumatizing, and abhorrent sexual abuse of children.
Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England said, ‘Posey used the dark web to advertise abhorrent images capturing the sexual abuse of children who were irreparably harmed in the productions. Now he will remain in prison for a considerable period of time where he cannot be a threat to the public.’
Related Federal Cases
- Kenneth E. Henderson, Receipt of Child Pornography, GA, 2023 · Washington
- Henry Kamen, Child Pornography Possession, GA 2014 · Washington
- John Doe, Possession of Child Pornography, Washington 2022 · Washington
- Mikeale Frazier Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Sexual Abuse, DC, 2023 · Washington
- Scot Letourneau, Child Porn Distribution, MA 2017 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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