PRODUCER OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a 30-year old Carbon County man was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo to serve 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

Judge Caputo explained that he sentenced the defendant, John Levernier, to the maximum sentence allowed by law to punish his “unspeakable” actions and to send a message to others that such conduct will not be tolerated by our society.

Carlson noted that Levernier, formerly of Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty to taking pornographic photographs of a minor. Levernier committed the offense during May 2006 through February 2007.

Levernier was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2007, following an investigation by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office. Levernier also faces sexual assault charges involving a minor in Carbon County Court.
Judge Caputo also ordered that Levernier be placed on lifetime supervision by the U.S. Probation office following his release from prison. Levernier must also pay a $100 special assessment.

Carlson noted that the investigation and prosecution of Levernier are part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Carlson noted that Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.

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