Juneau, Alaska - Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that, yesterday, a Juneau man was arrested on a federal complaint and arraigned in federal court in Juneau for one count of production of child pornography, one count of enticement of a minor using the internet, and one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography.
Scott Andrew Funk, 24, resident of Juneau, Alaska, was arrested yesterday by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) based on a four count criminal complaint charging him with production of child pornography, enticement of a minor using the internet, and receipt and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the production of child pornography, Funk is subject to a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a maximum of 30 years in prison; for enticement of a minor using the internet, Funk is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life imprisonment; for receipt of child pornography, Funk is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to 20 years imprisonment; and Funk is subject to a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment for possession of child pornography. A maximum fine of $250,000 applies to each count.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who conducted the arraignment, Funk came to the attention of HSI when a parent in the lower 48 discovered electronic communications between Funk and the parent’s minor child. The investigation revealed Funk had communicated with the juvenile from early March to early April using internet-based phone applications and messaging services. Funk directed the minor to produce and send sexually explicit images to Funk, that he received using those internet-based applications and messaging services.
The Charges and resulting prosecution are part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing Project Safe Child (PSC) initiative and HSI’s initiative to combat child exploitation. In May 2006, DOJ launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, identify and rescue victims and to educate the public about safe Internet use, thereby reducing the risk that children might fall prey to online sexual predators. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
Launched in 2003, HSI’s initiative to combat child exploitation has resulted in the arrest of more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. For additional information about these investigations, download HSI’s smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
