Kansas man sentenced for distributing child pornography

WICHITA, Kan. — An eastern Kansas man was sentenced Monday to six years in federal prison for distributing child pornography.

This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Zachary E. Krueger, 33, of Emporia, Kansas, was sentenced following his guilty plea to one count of distributing child pornography.  He admitted that he distributed child pornography via the internet using an encrypted peer-to-peer network. This investigation began with an internet chat between Krueger and an undercover HSI special agent in Delaware. Krueger gave the special agent a password to access and download files including images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activities. Investigators traced Krueger’s Internet Protocol address back to his home in Emporia.

Tom Beall, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, commended HSI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on this case.

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 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.

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.