Trent Drexel Howard, Child Pornography, Washington 2019

A Tri-Cities man is behind bars after being extradited from Kazakhstan to face child pornography charges in the Eastern District of Washington.

Trent Drexel Howard, 49, of West Richland, Washington, made his initial appearance in federal court on [DATE REDACTED] following his extradition from Kazakhstan.

According to court documents, Howard was working in Kazakhstan when federal agents executed a search warrant at his residence in the United States and seized several electronic devices. Court documents further indicate that, after learning of the investigation, Howard stayed in Kazakhstan and was eventually arrested by Kazakhstan authorities on September 12, 2019.

A Kazakh judge ordered Howard be detained pending an extradition request from the United States. According to the Office of International Affairs, Howard’s removal from Kazakhstan is the first extradition from that country by the United States.

Howard is charged with distribution, receipt, attempted production, and possession of child pornography, as well as production and attempted production of child pornography involving 12 minor victims.

The charges against Howard are punishable by varying terms of imprisonment, including a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, a $250,000 fine for each count, and up to a life term of supervised release following any prison sentence.

The case is being pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.