WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging an Arizona man with kidnapping then holding a victim for ransom.
According to court documents, Martin Brandon Gillen, 26, of Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with one count of kidnapping, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of sexual exploitation of a child (production), and one count of transportation for criminal sexual activity.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Stephen Barnhart, 58, of Wichita, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case.
James Arnold Martinez, 26, of Oklahoma was indicted on one count of cyberstalking a child, one count of sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of distribution of child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Ruben Ortiz-Moreno, 35, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
