Redding man sentenced to 11 years in prison for distributing child pornography
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Redding man was sentenced Thursday to 11 years and three months in prison for distribution of child pornography, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Michael Ray Robertson, 64, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography March 24. The case was the product of “Operation Sunflower,” a nationwide investigation targeting purveyors of child pornography that began in 2012. The name is based on a case in which a sunflower-shaped highway road sign identified in online images led to the rescue of an 11-year-old girl in Kansas.
According to court documents, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Robertson’s residence after undercover investigators identified a computer in the Redding area that was distributing child pornography over a peer-to-peer file sharing service between June 2012 and November 2012. The computer, which was determined to be Robertson’s, contained numerous images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
“Operation Sunflower resulted in more than two dozen arrests in northern California alone and HSI’s tireless work to identify child predators and rescue their unwitting victims is ongoing,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, the special agent in charge who oversees HSI’s investigative efforts throughout northern California.
“Bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice not only furthers public safety, we believe it also sends a powerful message to those who sexually exploit children online that cyberspace affords no refuge from detection.”
“Bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice not only furthers public safety, we believe it also sends a powerful message to those who sexually exploit children online that cyberspace affords no refuge from detection.”
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew G. Morris prosecuted the case.
Operation Sunflower was conducted under the auspices of 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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