Marshall County Man Convicted Of Sexual Exploitation Of Minors

Peoria, Ill. — Following a two-day bench trial before Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, Brian A. Miller, 36, of Varna, Ill., was convicted today of 22 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Judge Shadid scheduled sentencing for Miller on Sept. 16, 2014

Since Miller was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint, filed Aug. 29, 2013, he has remained detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

During the two days of trial, the government presented evident to demonstrate that from  at least July 2011 through May 2012, on at least 22 occasions, Miller used a cell phone to take images of minors from a hole in the wall of his home while the minors were using a shower.

At sentencing, for each count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the production of child pornography, the statutory penalty is not less than 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison.  The offense also carries a term of supervised release of up to life following any term of imprisonment.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass is prosecuting the case. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.