North Dakota man sentenced to 14 years for receiving child pornography
Williston man had nearly 200,000 images
BISMARCK, N.D. — A northwestern North Dakota man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 14 years in prison for receiving child pornography.
This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI).
Steven Edward Brooks, 50, of Williston, North Dakota, was sentenced by US District Judge Daniel L. Hovland to serve 14 years in federal prison following his conviction on one count of receiving child pornography. Brooks had previously pleaded guilty to the charge.
“Mr. Brooks possessed nearly 200,000 images of innocent children being sexually abused and exploited,” said Alex Khu, special agent in charge of HSI St. Paul. “With the help of our local and state partners, our HSI special agents will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who produces, possesses or receives child pornography.”
This case was initiated after a BCI agent discovered a computer operating from North Dakota that was sharing child pornography on a peer-to-peer computer network. Investigators linked the computer to Brooks’ residence and a search warrant was conducted on Brooks’ electronic media. Subsequent forensic examinations revealed more than 190,000 still images and nearly 1,600 videos containing child pornography.
Judge Hovland also ordered that Brooks serve 20 years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund. Brooks was previously employed as a sergeant at the Williams County (North Dakota) Correctional Center.
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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