TOPEKA, KAN. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Kansas), published as received.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Missouri man with producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Joshua David Kolb, 43, of Independence, Missouri, was indicted on one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure. 

Kolb allegedly directed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create visual depictions. He is also accused of traveling from Missouri to Kansas on multiple occasions for the purpose of having sex with a minor. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.

Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Noah Luke Atteberry, 30, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.

Mitchell J. Garlach, 38, of Olathe was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.

Eric Marcell Thomas Jr, 20, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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