Yuma resident sentenced to 25 years for producing, distributing and possessing child pornography
PHOENIX – On Dec. 17, 2018, Aaron Louis Turk, 32, of Yuma, Ariz., was sentenced to 300 months in prison for producing, distributing and possessing child pornography following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The sentence was handed down by Chief U. S. District Judge G. Murray Snow. Turk had previously pleaded guilty to producing child pornography involving two minors, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography.
In his plea agreement, Turk admitted that he produced and possessed illegal child pornography images of two toddler-age girls, along with other child pornography. The toddlers were in Turk’s care when he produced the illegal images of them. Turk was first detected on a file sharing network which led to a federal search warrant being executed at his residence in Yuma, Ariz. Law enforcement seized a computer and a cell phone used by Turk, both of which contained child pornography images.
“HSI Yuma will work tirelessly to investigate and bring to justice sexual predators like Mr. Turk who exploit our most vulnerable population,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “This sick and deviant behavior will not be tolerated by society. Thankfully the victims we rescued are out of harm’s way with the defendant serving a lengthy sentence.”
The Court also ordered Turk pay restitution to all identified victims, and serve a lifetime term of supervised release after his release from prison.
“The defendant’s lengthy sentence in this case is well-deserved,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “The defendant’s reprehensible conduct targeted not only very young children, but children who had been placed in his care. I would like to recognize and thank the Yuma Homeland Security Investigation agents whose hard work brought this predator to justice.”
The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
HSI’s participation in this case was part of Operation Predator, an international HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 16,000 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 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 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. HSI is a founding member 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.
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