ICE HSI arrests Los Angeles-area man on federal charges for advertising, distributing, and possessing child pornography
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a Los Angeles-area man Thursday on an indictment stemming from the discovery of a large collection of child pornography on his home computer and evidence he was engaged in online trading of the sexually explicit images with others, including an undercover law enforcement officer.
Jerry Glen Moran Jr., 63, of Perris, was taken into custody without incident pending an arraignment in U.S. District Court. Moran is named in a four-count indictment handed down Feb. 8 charging him with one count of advertising child pornography, two counts of distributing child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
HSI’s investigation into Moran began after he was found to be a user of a foreign photo-sharing website identified by law enforcement as a platform used by child pornographers to meet and trade child pornography.
“The online child pornography market presents an ongoing threat to children who are abused to produce material,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “A child is victimized every time an image is generated and every time it is distributed. This defendant’s conduct is more serious because he advertised his collection to others.”
During the investigation, HSI special agents recovered tens of thousands of images and videos on Moran’s home computer and in emails that he had sent and received. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reviewed many of the computer files and identified thousands of them as being known images and videos of child pornography.
“Every time a sexually explicit image of a child is downloaded and viewed, that victim is violated yet again,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “It is our duty as law enforcement officers to protect those who cannot protect themselves. HSI will continue to pursue child predators and make them accountable for their unconscionable actions.”
The charge of advertising child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years. The charge of distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Teresa K.B. Beecham of the Riverside Branch Office.
The charges in this case are a product of 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.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
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