Greenville Man Sentenced to Five Years on Child Porn Charges

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Micah R. Vickery, age 37, of Greenville, was sentenced in federal court in Anderson, for possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A.  United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain, of Anderson, sentenced Vickery to 5 years’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that law enforcement conducted a proactive investigation involving a file-sharing network used by individuals with an interest in child pornography.  An undercover officer downloaded a video that Vickery had available for sharing. 

A federal search warrant was obtained and executed.  Electronic devices were seized and law enforcement found 900 images of child pornography.  Vickery admitted to having a problem with all sorts of pornography and admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography.  Agents found images of children under the age of 18, and some prepubescent, engaged in the lascivious display of the genitals and sexual activity.

The case was investigated by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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