A 34-year-old Newark man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Wilmington for distributing and possessing child pornography.
Melvin Janvier III has been in state custody since his arrest on July 20, 2021, according to a press release from David C. Weiss, U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware.
“The production, distribution and collection of child pornography is a heinous shadow industry that targets the most vulnerable among us – our children,” Weiss said. “Our office is dedicated to combatting this abhorrent industry and bringing those who lurk in its shadows to justice.”
If convicted, Janvier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, with a maximum penalty of 40 years’ incarceration. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Squad of the FBI Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force and will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox.
