LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – A federal investigation into online child exploitation chatrooms led to the arrest of Little Rock man Harold “HL” Moody, Jr. 39, who has been charged with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Cody Hiland and Special Agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Division, Jere T. Miles announced the unsealing of the criminal complaint.
While conducting this investigation in the fall of 2018, undercover agents for HSI, the Criminal Investigative Division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), observed Moody active in these exploitative chatrooms on at least five occasions.
According to the complaint affidavit, on more than one occasion Moody’s face was visible in a chatroom while child pornography was being displayed, and on more than one occasion he was distributing child pornography in the chatroom.
HSI agents executed a search warrant at Moody’s residence Monday, Nov. 5 and arrested him that same day.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Allison Bragg. A trial date has not been set yet for Moody.
Moody previously served as chair of the Pulaski County Democrat Committee and as spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Arkansas but is no longer associated with them. Pulaski County Communications Director, Cozetta Jones, confirmed that Moody was the special events coordinator for Pulaski County and that he was terminated Monday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, possession of child pornography carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a minimum of 5 years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Distribution of child pornography carries a penalty of minimum 5 years and maximum 20 years imprisonment, a minimum of 5 years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
This is an updated version of a previous story. Stay with THV11 for the latest on this case.
