January 22, 2008

North Dakota man indicted for producing, possessing child pornography

BISMARCK, N.D. - A North Dakota man was indicted Tuesday for producing and possessing child pornography.  The indictment is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Mountrail County Sheriff's Department.

The indictment charges James A. Seibel, 51, of Ross, N.D., with two counts of sexually exploiting minors, and one count of possessing child pornography. It alleges that he used minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the conduct. The alleged incidents occurred in Ross, N.D., on July 14, 2007.

The statutory maximum sentence for each count of sexual exploiting minors is 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  The maximum sentence for one count of possessing child pornography is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota stressed that an indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt.  An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clare Hochhalter is prosecuting this case.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: