Georgia man pleads guilty to producing child porn

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A Kingsland, Ga., man pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in relation to his production of numerous images of child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kingsland Police Department.

Angel Luis Rivera, 41, pleaded guilty after evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing showed that on a number of occasions between 2009 and 2010 he sexually molested three children under the age of 14 in order to create pictures and videos of that conduct.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said, "This defendant violated the innocence of children. His acts were despicable and they demand the severest punishment allowed by law. Swift aggressive prosecution of child predators will be one of the standards by which this United States Attorney's Office will and should be measured. Protecting this country's children is the highest priority for the Department of Justice and this United States Attorney's Office."

"While it is heart-breaking to discover evidence of innocent children being sexually exploited, it strengthens the resolve of law enforcement to investigate child pornography crimes," said Brock D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta. "I applaud the diligence and commitment of the Kingsland Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia in working with HSI to investigate this case and bring the defendant to justice. We will continue to dedicate our resources and track down those individuals who are involved in the underworld of child pornography." Nicholson oversees HSI activities in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Kingsland Police Chief Darryl Griffis added, "This investigation and subsequent conviction is an example of the Kingsland Police Department's continuing commitment and cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies to protect our most valuable community asset, our children."

Each count to which Rivera pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, followed by at least five years of supervised release. Rivera will also be required to register as a sex offender. The date for Rivera's sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The case is part of HSI's Operation Predator, a nationwide initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who sexually exploit children, and Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a Department of Justice effort launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

As part of Operation Predator, HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 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 and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.