Nebraska man sentenced in Montana to more than 16 years in prison for child pornography crime

MISSOULA — A Nebraska man was sentenced Wednesday to 200 months in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for conspiracy to advertise child pornography.

The following agencies investigated this case:  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

Tony Gustafson, 48, of Hastings, Nebraska, is also required to forfeit his computer, hard drives, a USB device, and 30 VHS tapes that were involved in the crime.  Chief U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen sentenced Gustafson following a Feb. 9 change of plea hearing in which Gustafson pleaded guilty to the offense.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson, the government stated that if the case had proceeded to trial, the government would have proven that an invitation-only online bulletin board, referred to as Dark Moon, was created in 2011. It allowed members to advertise and exchange images of child pornography. Around 2012, Gustafson became an active member of the bulletin board and continued to be an active member in a more advanced role as of April 19, 2013.  Gustafson requested child pornography from other members while on the bulletin board. He also responded to and commented on posts of child pornography on the board. Law enforcement analyzed Gustafson’s digital devices and other evidence, which revealed that he used hard drives, a computer, a USB storage device, and 30 VHS tapes in commission of the crime.  Gustafson was ordered to forfeit those items during his sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson, District of Montana, prosecuted this case along with Maureen Cain, of the U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section. Because there is no parole in the federal system, Gustafson will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is released from prison.

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 12,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 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.

HSI is a founding member and current chair 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.