Maine man sentenced to 15 years for transporting child pornography
BANGOR, Maine – A Blaine, man was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to 15 years in prison for transporting child pornography after pleading guilty on September 2, 2015. The sentencing is a result of a joint investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Maine State Police.
Robert Kinney, Jr., 41, of Blaine, Maine was sentenced by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 15 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for his role in sharing numerous images of child pornography. Blaine was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution.
According to court records, on August 20 and 21, 2014, Kinney emailed at least nine videos and 15 images of child pornography as he traded with others over the internet. The defendant’s trade in child pornography supported, and was supported by, his personal collection of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of young children.
“The volume of cases involving child exploitation is frightening,” said Matt Etre, special agent in charge for HSI New England. “The only way we can stop this dehumanizing crime is by working closely with our law enforcement partners, at all levels, to coordinate efforts and leave these predators with nowhere to run.”
In announcing the sentence, Judge Woodcock described the defendant’s conduct as “chilling to any parent, grandparent, or anyone who cares about children.”
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.
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