Goose Creek Man Indicted for Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography Involving a Prepubescent Minor

The following press release was issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of South Carolina on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned an indictment against Michele “Mike” Mancino, 40, of Goose Creek, for production and possession of child pornography.

The indictment alleges that from at least November 2021, until December 2022, Mancino employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity in order to produce a visual depiction of that conduct. The indictment additionally alleges that on or about October 26, 2022, Mancino possessed child pornography involving a child under the age of 12.

Mancino faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, and he is currently detained.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Charleston Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.