A Rochester man was indicted this week for production, distribution, and possession of child sex abuse materials, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announced on July 24.
Jeremy Brooks, 33, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of production of child sex abuse materials involving two different minor victims, one count of distribution of such materials, and one count of possession. Brooks is currently detained in state custody on related assault charges and will make an initial appearance in federal court on July 28 at 2:30 p.m.
The indictment’s details are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Each charge of production carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum prison term of 30 years. The charge for distribution carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years; the possession charge carries up to twenty years imprisonment. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing sentencing in criminal cases.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Rochester Police Department, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which was created by the Department of Justice in 2006 as an initiative to protect children from exploitation and abuse by marshaling federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders and rescue victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire enforces federal laws under direction from the United States Attorney General; it handles prosecutions for federal crimes as well as civil cases involving the government while building alliances with law enforcement agencies across levels to safeguard residents through representation in federal courts, according to its official website.