May 17, 2010

FRANKLIN COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 21+ YEARS FOR PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Ronald Schulz, 54, Rantoul, Kan., has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

Schulz pleaded guilty. In his plea, he admitted he became a target of a criminal investigation when an undercover officer in Sacramento, Calif., received images of child pornography over the Internet. The officer traced the images to Schulz in Rantoul, Kan.

Agents of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement served search warrants in August and September 2009 at Schulz’s home. Among thousands of images of child pornography, investigators found photos of a 2-month-old girl who was a relative of Schulz. In the photos, Schulz was shown touching the child’s genitals.

Welch commended Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin for their work on the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the U.S. Department of Justice to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. For more information see www.projectsafechildhood.gov