Possessed hundreds of images of pornography at his home
Indianapolis--United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, announced today a former Boy Scout leader has been charged by a criminal complaint with distributing and possession child pornography. Thomas M. Franks, 55, Plainfield, was arrested in his home yesterday and had his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon.
“Our children deserve better from the people we place in positions of trust," said Minkler. “Those who chose to prey on the youngest of our citizens will be held strictly accountable and face the full wrath of federal prosecution."
On Nov. 2, 2015, detectives from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a pornographic image being uploaded to an email account. The images were traced to a computer at Franks’ Plainfield home.
The government alleges that for nearly four years, Franks has been communicating in chat incest rooms. He would portray himself as the father of six and eight year old daughters. Franks then received sexually explicit images and videos of young children from others in the chat room. The majority of these images were of prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At the time of the search, over 230 images were recovered from a computer and a thumb drive.
Franks was an assistant scout leader with Plainfield Troop 304 when engaged in the conduct described above. He remains in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact IMPD Detective Laura Smith at 317-327-3553 or NCMEC at 800-THE LOST (843-5678).
According to Assistant United States Attorneys Kristina Korobov and Steven D. DeBrota who are prosecuting this case for the government, Franks could face up to 20 years on each count if convicted.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in federal court.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
