A 75-year-old man from Francis Creek, Michael J. Kornely, has been indicted on multiple federal charges involving crimes against minors, according to Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Richard G. Frohling. The indictment, unsealed on Monday, alleges that Kornely transported two minors across state lines in 2005 and 2006 with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. It also claims that in March 2024, he used a computer to persuade a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office release, if convicted, Kornely faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to a life sentence, along with possible fines of up to $250,000 and a requirement to register as a sex offender under federal law. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The investigation involved the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and support from the Two Rivers Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Humble and Timothy W. Funnell are handling the prosecution. Project Safe Childhood was launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2006 and coordinates efforts across federal, state, and local agencies…