FBI Charges Holly Man with Child Porn Crimes

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan charged Chad Alan Cole, 45, of Holly, with several federal crimes of child pornography after a lengthy investigation, according to Holly Police.

The charges include:

Count 1 – 18 USC sec. 2251(a) Production of Child Pornography

Count 2 – 18 USC sec. 2252A(a)(2) Knowing Receipt of Child Pornography

Count 3 – 18 USC sec. 2252A(a)(5)(B) Knowing Possession of Child Pornography

Count 4 – 18 USC sec. 1470 Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor

Through a joint investigation with Holly Police Department, the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, it was learned that Cole had been communicating with a minor via the internet, according to a press release from the Holly Police Department. Police said Cole sent sexually explicit photos of himself to the minor and had received sexually explicit photos and other communications from the minor as well, the report stated.

Cole is being charged federally by the FBI. The Production, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography are each minimum 15 year felonies. The Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor is a maximum 10 year prison term.  Police said the investigation is still ongoing due to the possibility of more victims in the immediate area and other states. 

Cole was previously convicted in July 2006 of a misdemeanor for Furnishing Obscenity to Children. Cole had successfully completed probation in that case and was not required to register as a sex offender from the previous conviction, according to police.

A federal detention hearing will take place in Wayne County on at 1 p.m. Feb. 20. Cole is being held at Wayne County Jail.