October 11, 2007

Former university employee sentenced on child pornography charges
Eastern Washington resident will spend five years in federal prison

SPOKANE, Wash. - A former Eastern Washington University information technology specialist was sentenced in federal court today to five years in prison on child pornography charges, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Abraham Daniel Johnson, 31, of Spokane, Wash., subscribed to three different websites where he paid to download child pornography. In August 2006, ICE investigators executed a federal search warrant at Johnson's home in Cheney where he was living at the time.

ICE agents conducted a forensic analysis of Johnson's computer and found more than 9,500 images of child pornography and 12 pornographic videos. Some of the images involved children younger than 12 years old.

Johnson pleaded guilty July 24, 2007, to one count of receipt of child pornography.

"We are committed to focusing our efforts on individuals who seek to exploit innocent children," said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations that oversees Eastern Washington. "ICE will continue its aggressive efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of our society - our children."

Johnson will serve five years in prison, followed by five years of court supervision. He also will be required to register as a sex offender and has forfeited all the computer storage devices seized from him.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

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