Hardin County Man Indicted for the Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography

Memphis, TN – A Savannah man has been indicted on charges of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.

According to counts one through three of the indictment, in August 2017, Andrew Hilmar Sanchez, 30, coerced three minor females under the age of ten to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images and/or videos. Count four charges Sanchez with possession of child pornography and alleges that on February 22, 2019, Sanchez possessed a cellular telephone containing visual depictions of prepubescent minors under the age of twelve engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Sanchez also has state charges pending in Hardin County for continuous sexual abuse of a child.

If convicted of counts one through three, Sanchez faces up to 30 years imprisonment. If convicted on count four, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The United States also seeks criminal forfeiture of any proceeds related to the crime.

This case was investigated by the FBI, TBI and the Savannah Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Anyone who believes they may have information about this case or related activities is asked to contact the Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force at 901-747-4300.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.