Florida man sentenced to 20 years for child pornography

OCALA, Fla. – A Florida man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Thursday for the online receipt of child pornography. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando office and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

According to court documents, in 2014, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office investigation into online child pornography resulted in the execution of a search warrant at the home of Robert Toole, 51, of Ocala. There deputies discovered computer equipment containing more than 10,000 images of child pornography, many involving prepubescent children under the age of 12. In addition, Toole had many images of child pornography that he had taken of himself violating his daughter when she was a child. In testimony during the sentencing hearing Toole’s daughter described how her father’s conduct began when she was as young as 3 years old, and continued through her teenage years. Toole pleaded guilty November 6, 2015.

“This prosecution lent a voice to one of the many victims of child pornography, and gave closure to a young woman who has carried these wounds for many years,” said Middle District Florida U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Irick, from Bentley’s office.

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.