Alderson Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offense

 BECKLEY, W.Va. – An Alderson man pleaded guilty to production and attempted production of child pornography. Jack Michael Smith, 34, was charged by indictments in the Southern District of West Virginia and the District of Oregon. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon transferred their charges to the Southern District of West Virginia.

According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Smith uploaded child pornography from a computer in West Virginia to Kik Messenger to share with others in March 2019. In October 2019, additional child pornography was shared from Smith’s account. A conversation with another Kik user indicated ongoing sexual abuse of a minor female. Smith admitted that he traveled from West Virginia to Oregon on a regular basis to engage in sexual activity with the minor female and took photographs of the minor female engaged in sexual activity with him.

Smith faces at least 15 years and up 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on January 28, 2022.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Local law enforcement in Oregon assisted in the investigation.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is handling the prosecution.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of 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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.