Zack James Lawrence - Indicted Child Porn - Project Safe Childhood

An indictment has been filed in U.S. District Court charging Zack James Lawrence, 26, of Chambers County, Alabama, with distributing child pornography, and attempting to entice a twelve-year-old female to engage in sexual activity.

“The goal for prosecutors is to move internet predators ‘off-line’ and into jail where no child can be harmed,” stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

The indictment states that Lawrence distributed images of child pornography from January 4, 2007, until August 28, 2007. Also during that time span, Lawrence, while using the internet, attempted to persuade and entice and individual known to him as a twelve-year-old female to engage in sexual activity.

Lawrence faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for the distribution of child pornography, and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life imprisonment for attempting to entice a minor for sex.

“Parents and guardians are reminded that Internet predators are out there ready to do our children harm,” stated Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division. “All parents need to be vigilant supervising their children’s Internet use, and all children need to be aware that an apparent Internet friend may turn out to be just the opposite in real life.”

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Fortune is prosecuting this case on behalf of the U.S. Government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.