James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Alex Grade (age 23), of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, with possession and distribution of child pornography. According to the indictment, Grade is alleged to have used a computer to possess images and distribute child pornography. If convicted of the possession charge, Grade faces a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. If convicted of the distribution charges he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of twenty years in prison. Grade also faces a minimum of five years and up to life of supervised release.

The case stems from an investigation by the Kirksville Missouri Regional Crimes Unit, and the Milwaukee Office of the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gail J. Hoffman.

According to United States Attorney Santelle, “the Department of Justice has made the protection of our nation’s children a top priority through Project Safe Childhood, and prosecutions such as this further that priority.” He added: “The message from this case is that those involved in the receipt or distribution of child pornography will be prosecuted and will face real time in federal prison.”

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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