United States v. Evert Meiners

DefendanL-Appellant Evert Meiners operated a child pornography file server (“f-serve”), which he utilized to advertise child pornography images for distribution in exchange for other child pornography images to be sent to him. During summer 2004, Meiners advertised and distributed child pornography to several Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents, a New York State detective and an officer with the German National Police.

United States Immigration and Customs agents identified Meiners as the operator of the f-serve and executed a warrant at his residence in Billings, Montana in November 2004. During the search, agents seized computer equipment containing 10,-000-12,000 pornographic images, some of which depicted children engaged in sadomasochistic activity, including bondage and sexual intercourse.

Meiners agreed to plead guilty to four counts of advertisement of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251 (d), four counts of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2) and one count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B). The district court sentenced Meiners to 15 years in prison, comprised of…