Canadian citizen sentenced to 40 years for possession, production of child pornography

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Canadian citizen was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years followed by a lifetime period of supervised release for possession and production of child pornography. U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF), conducted the investigation that led to the identification, arrest and subsequent conviction.

In August 2014, HSI special agents arrested Denis Victor Courchesne, 46, of Alberta, Canada, at the Luis Muniz International Airport when he arrived in San Juan from Panama City, Panama, and CBP officers found child pornography in some of the electronic equipment he carried.

According to court records, Courchesne was a paid subscriber to a news group from which he downloaded hundreds of images depicting child pornography. A preliminary forensic analysis by HSI of Courchesne's electronic devices revealed multiple videos and advertisements containing child pornography. On Jan. 25, 2015, a federal grand jury returned a true bill charging him with 15 counts of production and one count of possession of child pornography. According to the indictment, from March 2007 to August 2014, Courchesne persuaded, induced and coerced several female minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.

“It is critically important that we continue to be successful in detecting individuals who attempt to conceal their illegal activities and move across international borders with perceived impunity,” stated Marcelino Borges, director of field operations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “We remain vigilant and prepared to detect and intercept all persons, baggage and merchandise that does not comply with our laws, corrupts the most vulnerable in society and places our citizens in danger.”

Prior to the creation of HSI in 2003, legacy U.S. Customs special agents investigated the disbursement of illegal child pornography that was often sent by mail or purchased overseas. With the advent of the Internet, the sharing and trading of child pornography now primarily occurs online. In addition to the legacy expertise, HSI special agents also have the authority to investigate the illegal movement of people and goods across U.S. borders, and because the Internet is borderless, the sharing of contraband online is an international crime. An image on the Web of a child being sexually abused can be seen by anyone anywhere in the world. Operation Predator draws on the agency's unique investigative and enforcement authorities to safeguard children. And, with 200 U.S. offices and more than 70 offices overseas, HSI has the ability to follow a case – to rescue a victim or arrest a predator – wherever in the world it may lead.

In June 2011, in response to the need for an island-wide approach to fighting the escalation of predatory crimes against children, HSI San Juan formed the Puerto Rico Crimes against Children Task Force (PRCACTF).

Through PRCACTF, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work together with local and state government agencies to effectively pool their resources and jointly investigate all crimes against children in Puerto Rico. Through the task force, law enforcement officers are able to share ideas, leads and evidence, as well as investigative and forensic tools to ensure the most successful prosecutions possible. As such, PRCACTF allows law enforcement to speak with one unified voice in defense of the children of Puerto Rico.

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.