Florida man sentenced to more than 12 years for child exploitation

TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison Friday for using a computer and cell phone to attempt to entice a child for sex and for possession of child pornography. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to court documents, Mark Joseph Unrein, 62, of New Port Richey, communicated online with an undercover officer who was posing as the mother of a 12-year-old girl. Unrein discussed engaging in sexual acts with the child and traveled late at night May 9, 2014, to a location in order to meet the "child" for sex. Upon arriving at the location, Unrein crept around the house, peered into windows, and finally approached the door, where he was arrested. Law enforcement subsequently located the computer that Unrein had used to communicate with the undercover officer. A forensic examination of that computer showed that Unrein possessed multiple images of child pornography, including pictures of children in 29 separate identified series. The victims were from the United States, Germany, Norway, Canada and other locations. Unrein was also found to possess images of babies and toddlers being sexually abused, as well as children who were bound and forced to engage in sexual acts. He was found guilty by a jury July 24, 2015.

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.