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U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney's Office 800 Federal Office Building Ph: (901) 544-4231
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PRESS RELEASE |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LEIGH ANNE JORDON (901) 544-4231 |
November 29, 2006
A Memphis Attorney and a Florida Restaurant Manager Indicted on Child Pornography Charges
Memphis, TN -David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced a federal grand jury returned two (2) indictments charging two (2) individuals with various violations of federal criminal law involving the possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. The indictments were returned on November 28, 2006 and resulted from investigations conducted by member agencies of the Memphis Crimes Against Children Task Force - specifically, the FBI, ICE, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Memphis Police Department. The individuals charged in the indictments are as follows:
DRAYTON BEECHER SMITH, II, a 57 year old local attorney from Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with Possession and Receipt of child pornography in interstate commerce by means of a computer. The maximum penalty for Receipt is not less than five (5) years and not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The maximum penalty for Possession is not more than ten (10) years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
MIRK0 BEKIC, a 45 year old restaurant manager from Naples, Florida, is charged with Transporting child pornography in interstate commerce by means of a computer. The maximum penalty for Transportation is not less than five (5) years and not more than 20 years prison, $250,000 fine, or both.
These cases are being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created 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 about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan L. Newsom will be handling these cases on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Note: Charges brought against a person through an Indictment are accusations only. That person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.