United States of America v. Michael M. Rapa

Benton, Illinois criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with possession of prepubescent child pornography.



Michael M. Rapa, age 68, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, first came to the attention of law enforcement in Vancouver,

Canada, in 2015. As the result of a subsequent investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of

Homeland Security and the Fairview Heights Police Department, in 2017 Rapa was determined to be in

possession of hundreds of image and video files containing prepubescent child pornography on

various items of electronic media which lead to charges in the Southern District of Illinois.



"There is something profoundly wrong with an individual who derives sexual gratification

from seeing children being raped,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "Law

enforcement must confront this evil because, to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, a true measure of

society can be found in how it protects its most vulnerable members.”



"One of the most horrific things an individual can do is seek to harm a child,” said acting Special

Agent in Charge of the Kansas City area of operations R. Sean Fitzgerald. "I couldn't be prouder of

the HSI special agents and analysts, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, who have

dedicated their lives to removing these predators from our community.”



This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006

by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child



18:2252A(a)(5)(B) - Possession of Prepubescent Child Pornography

(1-2)



18:2252A(a)(5)(B) - Possession of Child Pornography

(3)

Defendant is sentenced to the Bureau of Prisons for 72 months as to each of counts 1, 2, and 3, to be served concurrently. Upon his release, Defendant shall be on supervised release for 5 years as to each of counts 1, 2, and 3. Defendant shall pay assessment of $300 and fine of $300