BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - Jared Flanders, 34, of Johnson City, New York, was arrested today on charges contained in a twelve count federal indictment alleging he distributed child pornography via the internet.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Special Agent in Charge James Spero, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Flanders was arraigned today in Binghamton, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles, and held without bail pending a detention hearing scheduled for next week.
The charges in the indictment carry sentences that require a minimum of five (5) years and up to twenty (20) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miroslav Lovric.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.