Tennessee Sex Offender Indicted on Charge of Failure to Register

Springfield, Ill. – A federal grand jury in Springfield today returned an indictment that charges Shay Christopher Greene, 23, of Knoxville, Tenn., with failure to register as a sex offender upon his relocation from Tennessee to Danville, Ill., in May 2019. The U.S. Clerk of the Court will schedule Greene for arraignment in Urbana, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, at a future date.

Greene was arrested on Aug. 14, 2019, and charged by criminal complaint. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, in March 2019, Greene was released from incarceration in Tennessee, where he was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor involving production of child pornography. In late May 2019, Greene allegedly relocated to Danville, Ill., and failed to register or update his registration as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. While in Danville, Greene allegedly resided at various locations, including a local homeless shelter in Danville, and a residence on Kist Ave., Danville. Also, Greene allegedly used assumed names, including “Christopher Wolfe,” in Danville.

The indictment returned today charges Greene with the offense of failure to register as a sex offender, from May 31 to Aug. 14, 2019.  If convicted, the statutory penalty for the offense is up to 10 years in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000. 

Following his arrest, Greene made his initial court appearance on Aug. 14, 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Long, who ordered that Greene be detained. Greene has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson, The charge is the result of investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Danville and Catlin, Ill., Police Departments.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.