A Canton, Michigan man who texted instructions to a known sex trafficker in the Philippines detailing the type of child sexually abusive material he wanted to watch live over a webcam, was charged yesterday in a seven count indictment for conspiring to produce child pornography and related offenses, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Lowe is the 112th person arrested as part of an international sex trafficking investigation which has spanned nearly 10 years.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Office.

Charles Calahan Lowe, age 49, exchanged over 1,600 text messages with the known sex trafficker and paid her $30 to $40 for live “shows” of young girls, some as young as three, who were abused in real time to create sexually explicit videos and images shared over Skype. Law enforcement learned of Lowe’s existence when they executed a federal search warrant on the trafficker’s Skype account and unearthed the detailed text messages. Lowe sent wire payments for the child sexually abusive material over Western Union at Rite Aid stores near his residence in order to avoid detection by his wife. The trafficker has since been arrested and charged overseas.

Lowe is charged in a seven-count indictment with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, attempted production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to 30 years. Receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to 20 years. Possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor victim or a minor who has not reached the age of 12 carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

“The live sexual abuse of children over the internet is a heinous crime. We will continue to prosecute those who perpetrate these crimes against the most innocent and vulnerable members of society, wherever it is produced, to the fullest extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.

“The work to hold these predators accountable requires international cooperation at multiple levels as well as with our U.S. law enforcement partners,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “HSI is committed to identify and investigate U.S. citizens who seek to exploit children in the United States or abroad and will work with partners to ensure they face the consequences of their actions.”

An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by HSI Portland, Maine, HSI Detroit, and the Michigan State Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosemary Wummel Gardey and Cassie Resposo.

Original source can be found here.