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Date: 09-19-2020
Case Style:
United States of America v. William Farrell Russell
Case Number: 1:16-cr-10082-STA
Judge: S. Thomas Anderson
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (Madison County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office, Jackson, Tennessee
Defendant's Attorney:
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Description: Jackson, TN - Criminal Law, Possession, Distribution, Child Pornography
The United States of America charged William Farrell Russell with possession and distribution of child pornography depicting the sexual abuse of children under twelve years of age.
According to information presented in Court, investigators with the Faulkner County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Department learned that a user of the Kik instant messaging service was distributing child pornography under the screen name "funfortaboo." The investigators assumed undercover identities and began communicating with funfortaboo in late June 2016. Between July 1 and July 7, 2016, funfortaboo distributed to the undercover investigators images of child sexual abuse. The Faulkner County, Arkansas investigators and members of the FBI Project Safe Childhood Task Force for the Western District of Tennessee, identified "funfortaboo" as William Farrell Russell, who was then living in Cedar Grove, TN.
On July 28, 2016, members of the FBI Project Safe Childhood Task Force executed a search warrant at Russell's Cedar Grove home, and recovered the cellular telephone that Russell had used to distribute the child sexual abuse materials. On that telephone, Russell possessed hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including the images that he had distributed to the undercover officers under the screen name funfortaboo.
That same day, July 28, 2016, Russell waived his Miranda rights and admitted to using the cellular telephone to communicate with and send photographs to the undercover officers.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 5, 2021, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson. Russell faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of the indictment, and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Child pornography is an abhorrent offense that scars the children affected forever. And it doesn’t take an economist to know that demand drives supply. By repeatedly distributing hundreds of images and videos of young children being sexually abused, Russell contributed to their past victimization. And by fueling the demand for child pornography, his conduct likely also contributed to the future harm done to children in the name of profit. This office will always aggressively prosecute and seek significant and mandatory sentences for such depraved and predatory behavior in order to protect children and hold offenders accountable."
The FBI Project Safe Childhood Task Force and Faulkner County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Allen and Lauren Delery are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
18:2552 ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(1-2)
18:2252(a)(2) and (b) ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(1s)
18:2252(a)(2) and 2 ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(1ss)
18:2252(a)(4)(B) ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(2s)
18:2252(a)(4)(B) ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(2ss)
Outcome: 09/16/2020 199 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson: Jury Trial (DAY 3) as to William Farrell Russell held on 9/16/2020. 1st Charge Conference. Witness #5 Christopher Miller testimony continued. Govt. rests. Defendant sworn/Voir Dired by Mr. Ganguli. Defendant rests. Motion for Judgment of Acquittal taken under advisement by Court. 2nd/Final Charge Conference. Jury Charge. Closing Arguments. Alternates excused. Defendant found GUILTY as to Counts 1ss and 2ss. Verdict as published/Filed in Open Court. Jury polled. Jury discharged. Govt. Exhibits #4, #5, #6, #7, #9, #10 SEALED by the Court. Court exhibit #22 (Jury Note) marked/admitted. (Sentencing set for 1/5/2021 11:00 AM in Jackson Courtroom 1 before Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson.) Defendant remanded to USM custody. Court adjourned. PRESENT: Gregory Allen, Lauren Delery for Govt. Juni Ganguli for defendant. (Court Reporter Kristi Heasley.) (mbb) (Entered: 09/16/2020)
09/16/2020 200 EXHIBIT AAND WITNESS LIST. (mbb) (Main Document 200 replaced on 9/16/2020) (mbb). (Entered: 09/16/2020)
09/16/2020 201 Jury Instructions as to William Farrell Russell. (mbb) (Entered: 09/16/2020)
09/16/2020 202 JURY VERDICT as to William Farrell Russell (1) Guilty on Count 1ss,2ss. (mbb) (Entered: 09/16/2020)
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