John Mart Messer and his wife Deborah Messer of Brutus, Michigan, have been indicted on charges they distributed obscene materials and other related charges.
The Messers operated JMM Products Company which primarily handled the sale and distribution of adult videos.
The indictment was unsealed on April 20 by a federal grand jury in Grand Rapids, Mich. and the couple was arrested Monday, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
“The indictment and arrests reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to the vigorous enforcement of obscenity laws, which is absolutely necessary if we are going to protect citizens from unlawful exposure of obscene materials,” said Brent D. Ward, director of the Justice Department’s Obscenity Prosecution Task Force.
The FBI is investigating the case.
John Messer was facing one count of engaging in the sale of obscene material, one count of mailing obscene material, one count of transporting obscene material through a common carrier, six counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Deborah Messer was accused of aiding and abetting in the sale of obscene material. The couple faces up to five years in prison if they are convicted on the obscenity counts and an additional 30 years in prison on the child porn counts.
The Obscenity Prosecution Task Force, which heads the case, investigates and prosecutes the producers and distributors of hardcore porn that is deemed obscene as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial Attorney Sheila Phillips of the task force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Delaney, Criminal Division chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
