Acting United States Attorney Andrew T. Baxter announced that CLIFFORD D. SHULTZ, 56, of Carthage, New York, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography.

SHULTZ was initially arrested on the charges on September 16, 2008, and following a hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Hon. Gustave J. DiBianco, SHULTZ was ordered to be held without bail pending the resolution of his charges.

If convicted, SHULTZ faces a maximum penalty of 30 years, a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

SHULTZ’s arrest was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Police. The joint effort is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher, who can be reached at 448-0672.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.