United States Attorney James L. Santelle
announced that a criminal complaint had been issued charging Philip H. Wentzel
(age 41) of West Allis, Wisconsin, with production of child pornography. If
convicted, Wentzel would face a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years
in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to the criminal complaint,
Wentzel is a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy. The criminal complaint alleges
that in approximately April 2011, Wentzel knowingly produced child pornography.
According to the complaint, Wentzel was involved in a peer-to-peer file-sharing
program known to be utilized by individuals who trade child pornography. The
complaint alleges Wentzel’s profile page stated he was looking for original
images of child pornography involving girls. It is further alleged that Wentzel
made videos of child pornography involving prepubescent girls who appear to be
sleeping and or drugged when the child pornography images were taken.
Wentzel was arrested on May 2, 2012, at
the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. He made his initial appearance in
federal court on Thursday afternoon, May 3, 2012. Wentzel was ordered detained
pending trial. Wentzel will next appear in federal court on Wednesday, May 9,
2012, for a preliminary hearing.
According to United States Attorney
James L. Santelle, “Our continuing, aggressive identification of people who
victimize and prey upon the most vulnerable—our children—has resulted in this
important prosecution of an individual who has been producing child pornography
for at least two years. That some of those images depict minors being sexually
assaulted aggravates the criminal conduct—and underscores the connection
between abusive physical conduct and the online sharing and distribution of
child pornography.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Teresa L.
Carlson stated, “The FBI works diligently to bring those who prey on the
children of our community to justice. It is particularly disturbing when a
crime like this is committed by a member of the law enforcement community. We
urge anyone who may have information related to this case or knowledge of other
victims to contact the FBI at (414) 276-4684.”
This case was investigated by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, Milwaukee Cyber Crimes Task Force. This case is being
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Penelope L. Coblentz.
This case is prosecuted as a component
of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing
epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the
Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal
Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood
marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and
prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to
identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood,
please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
A criminal complaint is the formal
method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or
her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that
the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
For additional information contact:
Assistant United States Attorney
Penelope Coblentz or
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig
(414) 297-1700
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