Northern District of Illinois | Federal Indictment Accuses Former Gary, Ind. Police Officer of Enticing a Minor to Produce Child Pornography

CHICAGO — A former Gary, Indiana, police officer was arrested today on federal criminal charges for allegedly enticing a minor to produce and record sexually explicit conduct.

JAMES W. BOND, 52, of Crown Point, Indiana, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and possession of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Indiana. The complaint alleges that while Bond was serving as a captain with the Gary Police Department earlier this summer, he enticed and coerced a minor into performing sexually explicit conduct and sent it to Bond. The minor was employed by the city of Gary at the time as part of the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Bond was arrested this morning. His initial court appearance is scheduled for this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Abizer Zanzi in the U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind.

The charges and arrests were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, and Douglas G. Carter, Chief of the Indiana State Police. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois after a recusal by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not proof of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The exploitation charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The receiving charge carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years, while the possession charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

If you believe you or someone you know has been victimized by James W. Bond, you are encouraged to contact Homeland Security Investigations by calling 1-877-4-HSI-TIP. Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.