Kentucky Man Charged with Advertising Child Pornography
BOSTON – A Kentucky man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with advertising pornographic images of children via the dark web.
Scott Allison, 57, of Glasgow, Ky., was indicted on one count of advertisement of child pornography. Allison made an initial appearance in federal court in the Western District of Kentucky this morning. The defendant was initially charged on Nov. 17, 2021 in the Western District of Kentucky with possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, an undercover agent observed Allison utilizing a username on the dark web that advertised and posted links on or about April 13, 2021, to child sexual abuse images of boys as young as approximately two years old. It is alleged that Allison used at least two different usernames on various websites on the dark web.
The charge of advertisement of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky; and Jerry C. Templet Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Nashville made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane, of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
