Kentucky man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

COVINGTON, Ky. — A Kentucky man was sentenced Thursday to the maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography.

These charges were announced by the following agency heads: U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr., Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge James M. Gibbons, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Office; and Chief Robert Nader, Covington Police Department. HSI and the Covington Police Department investigated this case.

Ryan J. Brock, 34, of Covington, previously admitted to sexually abusing a minor relative and producing photographs and videos of the abuse using a tablet device.

During a search of Brock’s residence in Covington, his tablet was not located, but an empty box for the device was found inside his vehicle.

HSI special agents also located and forensically examined a laptop computer. During that examination, HSI special agents found images and videos depicting the sexual abuse perpetrated by Brock, as well as other child pornography.

Brock pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2017.

Under federal law, Brock must serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence; upon release, he will supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.

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 16,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2017, more than 2,700 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 900 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 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.