Former Port St. Lucie police officer sentenced for production, distribution, possession of child pornography
MIAMI – A former Port St. Lucie police officer was sentenced Monday, to life in prison for production, possession and distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Miami and Delaware and the Port St. Lucie Police Department.
Michael Edwin Harding, 28, of Port St. Lucie, was charged with receiving and distributing material involving sexual exploitation of minors and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, on July 23, an individual posted images of child pornography to an instant message account for mobile devices. An investigation conducted by HSI special agents revealed that an additional image and video of child-related sexually explicit materials were posted to the account. Subscriber information allegedly identified Michael Harding as the account holder. On Sept. 22, HSI special agents executed a federal search warrant at Harding’s residence and seized his computer, cellphone and thumb drive, along with other materials. A preliminary forensic analysis revealed the items contained hundreds of images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On Nov. 12, Harding was charged on a six count superseding indictment for production, distribution and possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. Harding created visual depictions of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a 9-year old victim and attempted to use a social media site to arrange a meeting with an adult subject for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with another’s minor children.
“Through Operation Predator and our strong investigative focus in South Florida, HSI targets violators and dismantles groups that threaten children throughout the cyber and physical world,” said Robert C. Hutchinson, acting special agent in charge of HSI Miami. “This life sentence is another critical achievement to protect children from sexual predators.”
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 10,000 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 1000 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.
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.
Updated: