MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – An Indiana man has been convicted on federal charges of shipping obscene films through the mail.
Loren Jay Adams of Martinsville, Indiana, was found guilty on six counts Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Federal prosecutors say the 45-year-old Adams could be sentenced to as much as five years in prison and fined $250,000 on each count. No sentencing date is set.
Adams had already been convicted of exhibiting and distributing obscene material in Indiana. He was convicted in Marion County in 2002 and lost an appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Evidence from that case was used in the West Virginia trial.
The jury also ruled that Adams must forfeit all films in his possession and the Web site he used to run his three businesses.
Back story 5/08: WASHINGTON – An Indiana man has been charged by a federal grand jury in Martinsburg, W. Va., with transportation of obscene materials and related offenses, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.
Loren Jay Adams, 45, of Indianapolis was charged with transporting obscene matters through the U.S. mail and transportation of obscene matters for sale or distribution by means of interstate commerce. In a separate allegation, the government is seeking forfeiture of assets belonging to Adams, including certain obscene materials and all property derived from profits or other proceeds obtained from or used to commit the alleged offenses. Adams faces a maximum prison sentence of five years on each of the charged counts. The indictment was returned by the grand jury on May 20, 2008, and unsealed following Adams’ arrest.
According to the indictment, Adams operates through his three businesses: Hard2Find Videos; L & J; and L and J. Adams is charged with distributing obscene DVDs in February 2008. According to the indictment, the films were shipped from Indiana to Martinsburg through the U.S. mail.
An indictment is a formal charging document notifying the defendant of his charges. All persons charged in an indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Pamela Satterfield of the Criminal Division’s Obscenity Prosecution Task Force with investigatory assistance from the FBI.