KANSAS CITY, MO. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Missouri, Western), published as received.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri announced today that, as part of its ongoing Project Safe Childhood initiative, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners have conducted a focused enforcement effort targeting individuals who fail to comply with federal sex offender registration requirements and those involved in child exploitation. The initiative was done in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service’s Operation Lights Out, which targets sex offenders who are prohibited from participating in Halloween activities, including turning on their porch light to signal that trick-or-treaters are welcome.

During October, 19 defendants were charged with either failing to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), or with various federal child exploitation offenses. Announced one day before Halloween, the enforcement effort underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding offenders accountable, protecting children, and enhancing community safety.

“There is no safe harbor for individuals who prey on children or disregard the laws designed to protect our communities,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “We will aggressively pursue those who exploit children and hold accountable those who fail to meet their legal obligations as registered sex offenders. Protecting children is not seasonal. It is part of our mission every day of the year.”

Below are cases that have been charged because of this initiative:

United States v. Richard Miller – Miller, 39, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Donald Haynes – Haynes, 44, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Shane Fleetwood – Fleetwood, 57, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher. It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Ivron Butler – Butler, 62, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Janine Carson and Garry Carson – Janine Carson, 40, and Gary Carson, 58, have been charged with four counts of producing child pornography and five counts of transporting child pornography. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher.  It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

United States v. Kenneth Ratliff – Ratliff, 51, has been charged with one count of distribution of child pornography. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States v. Frankie Craig – Craig, 51, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Austin Ploof – Ploof, 49, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Chad Clark – Clark, 43, was charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

United States v. James Gomez, Jr. – Gomez, 38, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Hanson. It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Damon Randle – Randle, 52, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Collins.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Katelyn Wilkinson – Wilkinson, 29, was charged with two counts of transportation of child pornography over the internet, one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna.  It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

United States v. Jeremy Lynn Orr – Orr, 42, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Miller.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. David Donald Lerssen, Jr.  – Lerssen, 44, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Miller.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Thomas Russell Keller – Keller, 46, has been charged with failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Miller.  It was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States v. Matthew Taylor Cox – Cox, 61, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Miller. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service and the Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office.

United States v. Andrew Paul Capps – Capps, 26, has been charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography and one count of failing to register as a sexual offender under SORNA.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Miller.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service and the Boonville, Missouri Police Department.

United States v. Tristen Nicholas Trevino – Trevino, 28, has been charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of commission of felony offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Miller.  It was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Service and the Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office.

The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, 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 Attorneys' 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."