U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Jamestown Man Going To Prison For 30 Years For Producing And Possessing Child Pornography

CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today James A. Chapman a/k/a Fatz Guy a/k/a Perverted Doe, 40, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of production and possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison and life supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on November 24, 2014, Chapman and Victim 1 communicated via Facebook Messenger about engaging in sexual activity. During the communications, the defendant offered to pay Victim 1 and one of her friends $60 each to have sex with him. Victim 1 stated that she was 16-years-old and that her friend was the same age. Later that evening, Victim 1 and Victim 2 went to Chapman’s residence in Jamestown, and the defendant engaged in sexual intercourse with them, after which Chapman paid each victim $60.

Following the sexual activity, the defendant used his cellular telephone to take a picture of Victim 1 and Victim 2 completely nude sitting on his bed. A review of Chapman’s Facebook accounts revealed that he then distributed the photograph, which constitutes child pornography, to four other individuals.

Subsequently, on April 7, 2017, the defendant began communicating with Victim 3, who was 17-years-old, through Facebook. During their communications, Chapman requested and received a sexually explicit image of Victim 3. The defendant then sent the image, which constitutes child pornography, to another individual. In addition, Chapman sent Victim 3 the sexually explicit image he took of Victim 1 and Victim 2.

“Thanks to this sentence, the defendant will not be able to victimize or sexually exploit minors for the next three decades,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Working with our partners at every level of law enforcement, my Office will continue do all that we can to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community are protected from those who seek to do them harm.”

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/jamestown-man-going-prison-30-years-producing-and-possessing-child-pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Honduran Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Entice Individuals to Travel in Interstate Commerce to Engage in Prostitution

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BIANCA ZELAYA-MERTENS, a/k/a Maritza a/k/a Jossi, 28, of Honduras, pleaded guilty on July 14, 2021 to conspiring to entice individuals to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

According to court documents filed in this case, in February 2020, while conducting an undercover operation with the intent of positively identifying the victims of human trafficking, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) learned that BIANCA ZELAYA-MERTENS (“ZELAYA-MERTENS”) was engaged in sex trafficking. A confidential informant contacted ZELAYA-MERTENS on the telephone and arranged a meeting for a commercial sex act. ZELAYA-MERTENS arrived at the designated location accompanied by a sex worker and a commercial sex act was negotiated with the confidential informant. After the sex act was negotiated and the informant paid the negotiated price, but before the act occurred, an NOPD detective and HSI agents opened the door to the adjoining room and clearly announced “police.” During a subsequent interview by agents, the sex worker stated that ZELAYA-MERTENS told her that she could make money doing prostitution. Thereafter, on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, the sex worker travelled from Houston, Texas to New Orleans and ZELAYA-MERTENS told her she would be working by giving clients sensual massages which included having sex. She stated that she charged fifty dollars for each client but had to give ZELAYA-MERTENS twenty-five dollars.

After being advised of her Miranda rights, ZELAYA-MERTENS stated to HSI agents that she had been introduced to this line of work by co-defendant Waleska Miroslava Cabus-Alvarado, who arranged for women to come to Louisiana each week for prostitution. They both used the same recruiter to locate sex workers.

ZELAYA-MERTENS faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years incarceration, a $250,000 fine, up to a three (3) year term of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. ZELAYA-MERTENS’S sentencing is scheduled on October 13, 2021.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Knight is in charge of the prosecution.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/honduran-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-entice-individuals-travel-interstate-commerce

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Grow and Bye face a maximum penalty of life, and Elrayes and Spillane face a maximum penalty of five years. All defendants are currently detained.

“While this indictment speaks for itself, human trafficking and child exploitation are vile crimes, and this office will swiftly and aggressively prosecute those who prey upon minors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney DeHart. “Our ability to address these cases hinges on the great work of our federal, state, and local partners. We also ask parents to be vigilant and to pay attention to your children’s online and social media activity. No demographic is immune from this type of crime, and no family with a computer or a phone is out of reach from these types of predators.”

“The victimization and exploitation of children is a major threat to our community and something we must all work to eradicate,” said Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “HSI is committed to identifying and safeguarding victims of human trafficking and child exploitation and will aggressively pursue offenders and ensure justice is served.”

“Human trafficking and child exploitation is real, and it is happening in South Carolina,” said South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel. “We have and will continue to work in collaboration with our local and federal partners to rescue those being victimized and bring justice to those who profit from the misery of others.”

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Derek A. Shoemake and Amy Bower are prosecuting the case.

The 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 Attorney’s 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, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Acting United States Attorney DeHart stated that all charges in indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

If you or someone you know may have information relevant to this investigation, please call the HSI Tipline at 1-866-347-3423.

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Kentucky

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Berea Man Sentenced to 214 Months for Production of Child Pornography

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Berea, Ky., man, Bradley Scott Helton, 33, was sentenced on Thursday to 214 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, for using a minor to produce child pornography.

According to Helton’s plea agreement, on May 16, 2020, he communicated with a 7-year-old victim, via an app called “Kiss Kiss: Spin the Bottle.” Helton admitted to chatting with the victim, sending the victim sexual videos and pictures, and requesting the victim send sexual videos in return. Helton admitted that he persuaded and used the 7-year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. He further admitted that the images traveled in interstate commerce when the victim, who was in Texas, sent them to him, in Kentucky, via the app.

Helton pleaded guilty in March 2021.

Under federal law, Helton must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years, following his release from prison.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations; and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by DHS-HSI and the KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/berea-man-sentenced-214-months-production-child-pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Southern District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Movie Producer Indicted For Operating A Prostitution Business And Money Laundering Scheme

Dillon Jordan Allegedly Operated a Long-Running and International Prostitution Service Under the Cover of Running a Film Business

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and George M. Crouch Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Newark Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging DILLON JORDAN, a/k/a “Daniel Jordan,” a/k/a “Daniel Maurice Hatton, a/k/a “Daniel Bohler, with conspiracy to violate the Mann Act, substantive Mann Act and Travel Act violations, and money laundering in connection with operating a prostitution business and laundering the proceeds of that prostitution business through two front companies – a purported party and event planning company and an actual movie production company. JORDAN was arrested today in San Bernardino County, California, and will be presented today in the Central District of California.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, for years, Dillon Jordan operated an extensive and far-reaching prostitution business, using a purported event planning company and a movie production company to conceal the proceeds he made from exploiting women. Now the party is over and the film is a wrap.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

From in or about 2010 through at least in or about May 2017, JORDAN operated a prostitution business throughout the United States and abroad. JORDAN maintained a roster of women who resided around the United States and who, in exchange for payment, performed sexual acts for JORDAN’s clients at locations throughout the United States, including the Southern District of New York, and abroad. JORDAN communicated with the clients of his prostitution business by email to coordinate the prostitution services, which included sending to clients photos of women who were available for hire for prostitution services, discussing the price of prostitution services, and overseeing travel logistics for women to travel to engage in prostitution. At times, JORDAN himself arranged the interstate travel from the women to engage in prostitution, and at other times, clients, at JORDAN’s direction, arranged the interstate travel for the women whom JORDAN directed to those clients. To facilitate his prostitution business, JORDAN also coordinated with a United Kingdom-based madam by sharing and referring customers and prostitutes.

JORDAN primarily managed the finances of the prostitution business through two front companies – a purported party and event planning company and a movie production company – incorporated in California. JORDAN opened multiple bank accounts for these companies, which he used to accept cash, wire, and check payments for prostitution services from clients and to pay for the expenses of the prostitution business, including paying the women for their prostitution services by cash and check. By using the two front companies to receive deposits from the prostitution business, JORDAN ensured that transactions involving those proceeds from the prostitution business would disguise the nature, source, and origin of those proceeds.

• • *

JORDAN, 49, of Arrowhead Lake, California, is charged with: one count of conspiracy to violate the Mann Act, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of enticement, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of use of interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

We urge anyone who feels she may be a victim of, or have information related to, the conduct in this case to please contact the FBI at NK-Victim-Assistance@fbi.gov or (973) 792-3000.

Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Cecilia E. Vogel is in charge of the prosecution.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/movie-producer-indicted-operating-prostitution-business-and-money-laundering-scheme