NEWS

Feds: Springfield man created, sent child porn

Stephen Herzog
SHERZOG@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A Springfield man faces federal charges after agents say he created and distributed child pornography.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Western Missouri, David Ray Albert, 49, took nude photos of a young girl and emailed them to an undercover Homeland Security agent in Maine.

The complaint says the agent, in September, discovered Albert "trading and sharing" photos online and began conversing with him.

The agent sent an "age-regressed photograph" of a clothed female Homeland Security agent — the photo regressed so the agent would appear to be between the ages of 10 and 14, according to the complaint.

Agents say Albert then sent photos of two clothed girls, one between the ages of 15 and 17 and another between the ages of 10 and 13. The complaint says Albert eventually sent a photo of the younger girl nude.

The complaint says agents tracked the online account info to Albert in the 900 block of West Brower Street. Agents say they eventually found Albert at his place of employment, where he agreed to be interviewed.

The complaint says Albert "confessed that he had in fact taken the photograph transmitted to (the agent.)"

The charge was filed against Albert on Friday and he was arrested the same day, according to records. He's in the Greene County Jail, currently held without bond.