Ohio man indicted on child exploitation charges

Cincinnati, Ohio – An Ohio man was charged in a four-count indictment Thursday for the sexual exploitation of a child following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Jason Henderson, 44, of Higginsport, Ohio, faces at least 15 years and up to 50 years in prison for the charges. He was arraigned in federal court Thursday and ordered held without bond.

U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart, Southern District of Ohio; and Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Ohio and Michigan, announced the charges. U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett will preside over the case.

According to the indictment, Henderson is alleged to have produced, received and distributed visual depictions of a minor in engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During a Sept. 30 search warrant executed at Henderson's home, agents seized computers, digital cameras, and media storage devices belonging to Henderson. A cursory examination of the items revealed children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Henderson later admitted to agents that he was in fact involved in the conduct as charged.

"Child pornography is the permanent record of a child being sexually exploited," said Special Agent in Charge Moskowitz. "These children are continually victimized every time those images are transmitted, downloaded, shared or viewed. HSI will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to protect young people in the community from those who attempt to sexually exploit them."

ICE HSI agents were assisted with the investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and sheriff's deputies from Hamilton and Brown counties.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. ICE HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.