Colorado man sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for producing child pornography with an infant

DENVER — A Colorado man was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer to 27 years in federal prison for producing and transporting child pornography.

This sentence was announced by the following agency heads: Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, District of Colorado; Acting Special Agent in Charge John Eisert, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver Division; and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Commander for Colorado Lieutenant Christina Sheppard of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Richard Hennis, 41, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a co-defendant, Brandi Leonard, were first charged by criminal complaints on March 11, 2016. They were then indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver April 5, 2016. Hennis pleaded guilty before Judge Brimmer on Nov. 21, 2016, and was sentenced April 19, 2017.

Following his prison sentence, Hennis was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release. Hennis, who appeared at the hearing in custody, was remanded at its conclusion.

Leonard pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography before Judge Brimmer on April 13, 2017. Producing child pornography carries a penalty of not less than 15 years, and not more than 30 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2017.

According to evidence presented in open court, as well as information contained in public filings, in the course of online chats that occurred between Hennis and Leonard spanning about one month, Leonard told Hennis that she had sexually abused an infant. Hennis encouraged Leonard to sexually abuse the infant again, to take pictures or video of the abuse, and to send them to him. Leonard did exactly what Hennis had asked.  Law enforcement recovered the pictures that were produced of the infant from Hennis’s phone. Hennis then sent the sexual abuse images of the infant to another individual he was communicating with online.

During their chats, the two defendants discussed in graphic detail kidnapping, raping, killing and dismembering a child between the ages of 4 and 8 years old. Leonard twice during the chat indicated that she didn’t intend to go through with it.

This case was investigated by HSI and the Colorado Springs Police Department’s ICAC Unit, with support provided by the Limon (Colorado) Police Department.

The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts, assigned to the Cybercrime and National Security Section of the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division.

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 14,000 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 2015, nearly 2,400 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.