North Texas man sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

FORT WORTH — A North Texas man was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means to 60 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John R. Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Hood County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office investigated this case.

Jonathan Daniel Kutej, 34, from Tolar, Texas, was convicted in November 2014 on two counts of producing child pornography.

According to documents filed in the case, on July 17, 2013, Kutej persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce a visual depiction of that conduct.

On Aug. 14, 2013, Kutej took sexually explicit photos with his Apple iPhone of another child. After discovering the photos, the girl’s mother contacted investigators.  An arrest warrant was obtained Aug. 15, 2013.  At the time of his arrest, Kutej was carrying a black Apple iPhone in his back pants pocket that contained sexually explicit photos of the girl.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Saleem, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

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 10,000 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.