Michael Wyatt Collius, Child Pornography, North Carolina 2018

Table of Contents

Child Pornography Ring Busted in North Carolina: Michael Wyatt Collius Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

A 23-year-old man from Norlina, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for his involvement in a child pornography ring. Michael Wyatt Collius was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $68,000 in restitution to known child pornography victims.

According to the federal authorities, Collius was one of the suspects identified in an investigation into Dropbox users sharing child pornography. The investigation, which began in September 2016 and involved the FBI and the Spanish National Police Cyber Child Pornography Group II, led to the execution of a search warrant at Collius’s residence on May 3, 2018. During the search, investigators seized Collius’s phone and later discovered over 800 images and over 200 videos containing child pornography.

Collius admitted to receiving, sharing, and possessing child pornography during the investigation. The case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Raleigh, North Carolina, conducted the investigation with assistance from the Spanish National Police Cyber Child Pornography Group II and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bryan M. Stephany represented the government.

Collius’s sentence marks a significant victory in the fight against child exploitation. The authorities have stressed the importance of working together to bring perpetrators to justice and protect the victims of child pornography.

The case serves as a reminder of the severity of the consequences for those involved in child pornography and the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.

Federal authorities have been cracking down on child exploitation cases in recent years, and Collius’s sentence is a testament to their commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.

The Department of Justice has been celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone in the fight against crime. Learn more about the history of the agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

The Project Safe Childhood initiative aims to make full use of all available law enforcement resources to effectively prosecute criminals exploiting children. For more information about the initiative, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.