Former Christian radio host sentenced to 40 years in prison for child exploitation

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Michigan radio host was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison Dec. 11 for producing and possessing child pornography. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

John Balyo, 35, of Grand Rapids, was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and was ordered to pay $8,500 to the victims.

"Individuals who prey upon children and create sexually graphic images come from all walks of life, but they will be found and prosecuted. The U.S. Attorney's Office in West Michigan and our state and federal partners are dedicated to protecting children. Predators should know that taking a single illegal picture exploiting a child means at least 15 years in a federal prison. They could also forfeit the computers, cameras, and even the houses that are used to sexually exploit children. We are committed to securing restitution for the victims to pay for the cost of medical care, counseling, and potential loss of income," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles, Jr.

Balyo pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2014. As part of the plea, he agreed to cooperate fully with law enforcement in this investigation and the investigation into Ronald Moser. Moser pleaded guilty in August 2014 to producing and possessing child pornography.  

Balyo met Moser online in November 2013, and the two immediately started emailing about a shared sexual interest in young boys. Balyo arranged to meet Moser and a 12-year-old boy three times in April and May 2014 in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek hotels. Balyo showed Moser other child pornography that he produced to prove that he was not a police officer. Balyo rented the rooms and brought a bondage kit containing zip ties, handcuffs, duct tape, rope, and rubber gloves. He also brought his professional grade photography equipment that he used for wedding photography. Balyo and Moser sexually assaulted and photographed the boy on all three occasions. Balyo gave the child a couple hundred dollars for his "modeling career."

Moser was arrested in early June, through which investigators learned of Balyo. Balyo was arrested by HSI special agents June 20, 2014, while hosting a music festival in Gaylord, Michigan, with his radio station. That same day, HSI and Michigan State Police executed a search warrant at Balyo's residence and searched his storage unit. Inside the storage unit, investigators found the bondage kit; video cameras; thumb drives; and various news clippings about missing children, children's obituaries, and child pornography laws. Balyo gave his computer to a friend to hold onto shortly after Moser was arrested, and the friend turned it in to police upon learning of Balyo's arrest. The computer contained multiple photographs of child pornography, including the ones from the Kalamazoo hotel room.

Balyo was convicted in Calhoun County of first degree criminal sexual conduct, and was sentenced to 25-50 years in state prison. It is expected that he will serve his federal and state sentences simultaneously.

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 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.