Inside ICE: Volume 4, Issue 1

Seven Charged in ICE Internet Child Pornography Trade Investigation

TUCSON, Ariz.—Six Arizona men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Tucson on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography. The six, plus one additional man who faces state charges, are the latest to be charged in Operation Emissary, a nationwide investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting a Web site that offered images and movies of hardcore child pornography. The program has resulted in more than 125 arrests in 22 states.

The six defendants include: Antonio Neira, 24, Deverne E. Horton, 77, and Lane Pickart, 52, all residents of Oro Valley, Ariz.; as well as Dennis Torres, 26, Zachary Z. Stephenson, 20, and Christian Gudino, 24, all of Tucson, Ariz.

Federal search warrants had been issued to search the six men’s computers in August 2006. In the course of the investigation, agents learned that the men had purchased subscriptions to a child pornography Web site. The agents seized each of the defendants’ personal computers and computer-related equipment. A forensic analysis of these computers and equipment revealed that they each possessed and/or received child pornography in interstate commerce.

The indictments allege that all six defendants possessed computer images depicting minors who had been sexually exploited. The indictments against defendants Gudino, Horton, Stephenson and Pickart further allege that they had received child pornography in interstate commerce.

A conviction for receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

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