Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
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A 47-year-old Sioux City man is in federal custody today on charges that he crossed a state line with intent to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of 12.
Sengkeo Phanaphay was charged in federal court with one count of aggravated sexual abuse, one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The charges are contained in an indictment filed June 19 in U.S. District Court in Sioux City.
Law enforcement officials allege that Phanaphay persuaded and enticed the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of it.
If convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, he faces a possible sentence of 30 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. The production of child pornography carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release following any prison term. Possession of child pornography carries a possible sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. In addition, Phanaphay also faces fines of special assessment on each charge.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department in Iowa and the South Sioux City Police Department in Nebraska. It is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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