Feds Seek Child Porn Suspect 'John Doe #17'

DOJ trying to ID man shown in video allegedly sexually abusing a young girl.

ByABC News
February 20, 2009, 2:19 PM

Feb. 20, 2009— -- A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted a man known only as "John Doe #17" on child pornography charges, and the Justice Department has released photos of the suspect in an attempt to identify him.

The indictment charges that on or about May 5, 2007, "John Doe #17," described as "a white male, approximately 210-250 pounds, with curly brown hair" and appearing in images accompanying the documents, "did knowingly transport and ship in interstate and foreign commerce, specifically by means of a computer, child pornography."

The indictment, announced today, refers to a video file named "DV Out Tear - 02[177432]," which "contain[s] visual depictions of a pre-pubescent female posed nude and exposing her genitalia."

"We are confident if a relative or friend sees this picture of 'John Doe #17,' they may recognize him, and we're hoping the local police will contact federal authorities, then we'll be able to prosecute" the suspect, said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

"Besides the traditional news media, if we get these pictures out on the Internet, someone may know the suspect and help identify him."

The Justice Department said the case stemmed from the investigation into a global child porn operation. A user of the service uploaded "two videos of a perpetrator, John Doe #17, engaged in the sexual exploitation of a pre-pubescent female," a department statement said.

Analysts were able to isolate images of the suspect's profile without showing the identity of the alleged victim.

Under the Justice Department's Endangered Child Alert Program, officials can open a case and begin to initiate a criminal investigation upon the discovery of a child pornography image. John Doe #17 is the 12th suspect to be prosecuted as a result of the program's efforts.

If authorities are able to convict the suspect, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years upon conviction.

U.S. and international law enforcement agencies have used a similar approach to identify child pornography and child sex abuse suspects in the past.