Kentucky man sentenced to 78 months in prison for child pornography

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  A Louisville, Kentucky, dentist was sentenced, in federal court Tuesday, to 78 months in prison for attempting to receive and possess child pornography.

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

Gregory Witte, 55, was charged in a four count grand jury indictment on July 7, 2015, and pleaded guilty to two of the counts on March 29, 2016.  The United States agreed to dismiss the remaining two counts during sentencing.

According to the plea agreement, using a peer-2-peer program, Kentucky State Police downloaded child pornography on November 5, 2014 and December 11, 2014, from an IP address traced to Witte’s residence in Louisville.  On January 7, 2015, a state search warrant was executed on Witte’s residence.  At that time, officers observed Witte’s computer actively downloading files from the internet with filenames indicative of child pornography. 

An on-site preview of Witte’s electronic devices revealed several files of child pornography.  A more thorough forensic review of Witte’s electronic devices revealed he possessed 91 image files and 21 video files of child pornography.  The forensic investigation also revealed he used several search terms indicative of child pornography.

Witte faced a minimum sentence of five years in prison.  As part of the plea agreement, Witte forfeited real and personal property used in the commission of the offenses including $40,000 in lieu of real property located on Happiness Way, in Louisville and computer equipment. His prison sentence will be followed by ten years of supervised release.

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.