On January 3rd, Marques Bynum, 27, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment after being convicted on April 18th for transportation and possession of child pornography. The case against Bynum was tried in the Western District of NC in front of US District Judge Frank Whitney.At trial, the Government proved that during the period from June 2003 to August 2003, Bynum posted numerous images of child pornography to a Yahoo Group entitled "sumthin4usgirls." The FBI began an undercover investigation into this group in July 2003.
According to the indictment, authorities identified the screen name "markie-zkidluv6" as the screen name responsible for multiple postings of child pornography and the FBI traced the screen name back to Marques Bynum.
FBI Agents in Charlotte continued the investigation and thereafter executed a search warrant in Bynum’s home, recovering a laptop computer belonging to him. Examination of that computer revealed approximately 5,000 images of child pornography, as well as evidence linking Bynum to the Yahoo Group.
Over the course of the three-day trial, the Government called numerous witnesses, including law enforcement officers from Sweden, Georgia and Idaho, as well as a digital imaging expert, to prove that the children depicted in the images were real. The defense did not offer any evidence at trial.
More Info: Federal Indictment & DOJ Press Release