SEATTLE - A 59-year-old Silverdale man is facing five years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court here today to receiving sexually explicit images of an 11-year-old girl over the Internet, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Carl Edward Stoker pleaded guilty today to receiving visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, a charge that carries a mandatory five-year prison term. Stoker is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Franklin D. Burgess September 22, 2006.

According to the plea agreement, in 2004, Stoker posed on-line as a 26-year-old college student living in Connecticut named “John Smith.” Using America Online instant messaging, he contacted an 11-year-old girl living in Illinois. The two met in a “Christian Chat Room.” After initially discussing the movie “Shrek 2,” Stoker shifted the conversation to sex. Ultimately he asked the girl to send him nude photographs of herself. On December 30, 2004, the girl e-mailed Stoker approximately 14 digital photographs of herself, some clothed and some nude. The photographs showed the girl was a minor. Stoker repeatedly asked the child to email additional photographs. The girl's parents became aware of the photographs and contacted law enforcement.

In the plea agreement, the parties have asked the Court to place Stoker on supervised release for 15 years following his term of imprisonment. Stoker will also be required to register as a sex offender.

ICE received substantial assistance in the case from local law enforcement in Illinois.

The investigation into Stoker's activities is part of Operation Predator, an ongoing ICE enforcement initiative launched in 2003 to identify, investigate, arrest and, in the case of foreign nationals, deport child sex predators. Since its inception, Operation Predator has resulted in more than 8,200 arrests nationwide.

ICE encourages the reporting of suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline. The number, 1-866-DHS-2ICE, is monitored 24 hours a day. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

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