Ohio Man Charged with Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

CLEVELAND - A Lorain County man has been charged by criminal complaint with receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit activity, and possession of child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).

According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, Michael Neville, 46, of Elyria, Ohio, was engaging in sexually explicit communications with an undercover agent purporting to be a father of a 9-year-old girl using a social media messaging application. The conversations centered around the defendant's sexual interest in children. During the investigation, federal agents found that Neville's electronic device contained CSAM of pre-pubescent children, and that he had sent CSAM material involving the sadistic abuse of an infant.

If convicted Neville faces up to 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit activity, and up to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Kane for the Northern District of Ohio.

Anyone with knowledge and information about this matter, please call the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 216-698-3151.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.