Seattle-area man sentenced to 9 years for distribution of images of child rape

SEATTLE — A Marysville man who possessed thousands of images and video of children being raped and molested was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography.

Todd Alan Ramey, 43, was arrested in November 2013 by special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) following a search warrant as his home. He came to the attention of HSI after he used a foreign website to exchange images of child pornography, according to court records. A forensic review of his computer revealed more than 14,000 images and 1,700 videos depicting the rape and molestation of children. In addition to the child pornography, investigators found Ramey had distributed images of children with descriptions of how he planned to rape or molest them. Prosecutors say Ramey had been investigated previously for sexual contact with a 14-year-old.

Ramey pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2014. He was ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in his collection and will be under 15 years' court-ordered supervision following his release.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the 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 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.