White Lake man charged with production, distribution of child pornography

DETROIT – A White Lake man is in federal custody Thursday on charges of production, distribution and possession of child pornography. The charges follow an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Officers with the White Lake Police Department arrested John Millmine, 34, Nov. 11 near his home on state charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He has been in custody since his arrest. He made an initial appearance this afternoon in federal court.

According to the complaint, HSI special agents executed a federal search warrant at Millmine’s home after receiving information from HSI Phoenix special agents and authorities in Ireland that revealed Millmine, under an online alias, had allegedly shared videos and images of himself and a toddler engaged in sexual activity.

During the search warrant, HSI special agents seized a smartphone belonging to Millmine. A forensics examination of the phone revealed several images and videos of child pornography.

If convicted, Millmine faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.