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October 2, 2015Columbus, OH, United StatesChild Exploitation

Former Ohio music instructor charged federally with child pornography offenses

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former school music instructor was charged late Thursday by criminal complaint with production of child pornography.

Brian Sze, 34, of Seattle, was arrested Sept. 29 without incident at his residence. He is also facing related state charges in Ohio.

Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the charges.

According to court documents, the investigation began in July 2015 after a tip was called into ICAC, which indicated Sze had illicit sexual contact with a minor and subsequently recorded the encounter.

Production of child pornography is a crime punishable by a range of 15 to 30 years in prison.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

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