John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jason J. Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment today charging MICHELLE LYNN GSCHLECHT, formerly known as RICHARD GSCHLECHT, 49, last residing in New Haven, with possession of child pornography.

As alleged in the indictment, Gschlecht knowingly possessed child pornography on July 31, 2019.  Gschlecht was previously convicted in state court of possession of child pornography and sexual assault in the first degree.

If convicted, Gschlecht faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Gschlecht’s alleged criminal history.

Gschlecht has been detained since her arrest on a state probation violation on July 31, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut’s Office of Adult Probation.  The case is being prosecuted by Nancy V. Gifford.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.