Indictment charges Maryland man with producing child pornography
BALTIMORE – A Maryland man arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents faces a maximum of 120 years in prison after he was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of producing and possessing child pornography.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Sheriff James T. DeWees of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the indictment, Eric Wayne Grinder, 36, allegedly sexually abused a now 10-year old minor, and produced images of himself and the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct over the course of three years. In addition, he used electronic communications devices to store and obtain visual depictions of minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“There are predators actively engaged in the illegal exploitation of children, which represent the most helpless and innocent within our communities,” Watson said. “ICE HSI special agents stationed throughout Maryland are committed to targeting and arresting individuals engaged in this horrific crime.”
Grinder faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for each of count of production of child pornography and a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count of possession of child pornography. The indictment was returned on April 26, 2017, and an initial appearance has been scheduled in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on May 4, 2017.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
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