BOSTON, Mass. - A Florida man was charged today in federal court in Fort Myers, Fla. on charges he had video recorded a 13-year old Massachusetts girl engaging in sexual acts.

DOUGLAS W. BOONE, 48, of Lehigh, Florida, was arrested today and charged in a criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of children. The criminal complaint alleges that from approximately May through August 2010, Boone employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct or for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction of such conduct.

Boone was arrested late yesterday in Fort Myers and appeared in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida today. According to court documents, Boone contacted a 13-year-old female Massachusetts child through the Internet, portraying himself as a 17-year-old boy. Boone admitted to law enforcement that he had video recorded the minor engaged in sexual acts, and also admitted to using an online website to upload and share the video files.

Court documents also indicate that Boone asked the 13-year-old female to advertise herself on Craiglist.com, in hopes that other men would respond to the ad and have sex with her via webcam. Boone also gave his credit card information to the victim in order to buy things for herself, in exchange for her nude videos.

Boone’s detention hearing is set for October 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in Florida.

If convicted on these charges, Boone faces up to 30 years imprisonment, to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Robert Bethel, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today.

The case is being investigated by the Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Criminal Division’s High Technology Investigative Unit. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorney Andrew McCormack of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.

This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

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