Arkansas man sentenced to 75 months in prison for child pornography

FORT SMITH, Ark. — An Arkansas man was sentenced Tuesday to 75 months in prison followed by seven years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office and the Hackett Police Department.

According to court records, in May 2014 agents with HSI identified a computer that was being used to download suspected child pornography via the internet. A subsequent investigation revealed that the subscriber information for that computer returned to Raymond Freitas, 42, of Hackett. Agents obtained and executed a search warrant on the residence where they seized a computer and several DVDs. Freitas admitted at that time to downloading images and videos of child pornography on several different occasions. A subsequent forensic examination of the confiscated items revealed numerous images and videos of child pornography. Freitas pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography Sept. 29, 2014.

 “We will not rest in our efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who commit these despicable crimes against our children. Every time a video or image involving sexual abuse of children is downloaded or viewed, those children are re-victimized,” said United States Attorney Conner Eldridge, Western District of Arkansas. “We appreciate the hard work of law enforcement to bring these sexual predators to justice.”

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 10,000 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.