Colorado ICAC Arrests 2008
1. Colorado Springs Police Department
01/10/08
The Colorado Springs Police Department was conducting an investigation
into the online activities of a local 14 year old female, which began in
September of 2007. It was discovered that this girl had been
communicating with several parties over the internet. One party's IP
address was traced back to James Irwin Charter School. It was
determined that a 45 year old middle school teacher, Randal Gomas
was the one communicating with the girl. He arranged to meet the girl
for a sexual encounter, however police arrested Mr. Gomas at the
predetermined meeting location. Mr. Gomas was arrested on numerous
charges to include Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Attempted Sexual
Assault on a Child, Enticement of a Child, Internet Luring of a Child
and Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child. It was also discovered
that Mr. Gomas had been terminated twice previously for inappropriate
online activities to include sexual chat with a 14 year old.
2. Jefferson County District Attorney's Office / Colorado Springs Police Department / Broward County Sheriff's Office, FL
01/29/08
The Broward County Florida Sheriff's Office developed several leads in
an investigation they were conducting concerning child pornography. One
lead was sent to the Colorado ICAC as a referral case. The
investigation revealed that the suspect was in Jefferson County,
Colorado. The lead was then forwarded to Supervisory Investigator Mike
Harris of the Jefferson County DA's Office Child Sex Offender Internet
Investigations Unit. Investigator Harris arrested 58 year old Robert
Devon Gushwa Jr. who was already a Convicted Sex Offender having
been arrested in El Paso County in 1998. On initial review Mr. Gushwa
had several hundred images of child pornography on his computer. Mr.
Gushwa was arrested for multiple counts of Sexual Exploitation of a
Child.
3. Douglas County Sheriff's Office
01/28/08
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office arrested 49 year old Jubran
Khoury for Internet Luring of a Child, Enticement of a Child and
Attempted Sexual Assault on a Child. Mr. Khoury using the screen
name "dadyloveyoumuch" engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with
a 14 year old girl and asked to meet her for sex. Four days later, Mr.
Khoury arrived at the predetermined meeting location and was arrested
without incident. His computers were seized and are being analyzed to
determine the extend of his online activity.
4. Colorado Springs Police Department
02/06/08
The Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested a 14 year old Colorado Springs girl for creating sexually explicit images and videos of herself and sending them to numerous people on the internet. She was charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child. Because this arrestee is a juvenile, no name or image will be released.
5. Canon City Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Pueblo Police Department
02/10/08
ICAC
Task Force member Canon City Police Department in cooperation with Task
Force Members Fremont County Sheriffs Office and the Pueblo Police
Department arrested Craig Davis.
The Canon City Police Department arrested 29 year old Craig Arthur Douglas Jr. from Pittsburgh, PA. When he arrived at an undisclosed meeting location in Pueblo, Colorado to begin a relationship with a mother and her nine year old daughter. Douglas wanted to be sexually active with both the mother and daughter. Douglas was using the screen name "gohan19782004". If anyone has more information or has chatted with Douglas, please contact Officer Sage at the Canon City Police Department.
It was discovered after the arrest that Douglas was already a registered sex offender for an enticement of a child offense with Georgia FBI. We would like to thank the Fremont County Sheriff Department and the Pueblo Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of Douglas. Douglas is being held on $50,000.00 cash only bond in the Fremont County Detention Center.
6. Colorado Springs Police Department
02/11/08
Colorado Springs Police arrested 49 year old Robert Wesley Bell
in El Paso County Court just prior to him being sentenced for sexual
exploitation of a child stemming from his September 2006 arrest. Mr.
Bell had been out on bond and agreed to a plea deal on that case. It
was discovered that several cybertips from the National Center For
Missing and Exploited Children were related to Mr. Bell. He had been in
contact with a 14 year old Pennsylvania girl and sent her a link to a
website. This website contained illustrated images of parties engaged
in sexual acts, extreme bondage, death and cannibalism. Mr. Bell was
charged with Promotion of Obscenity to a Minor a class 6 felony.
Mr. Bell is a former United Methodist Minister and has a private practice as a therapists. If you have any information concerning Mr. Bell's activities, please contact Det. Clayton Blackwell of the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7532.
7. Colorado Springs Police Department / Jefferson County District Attorney's Office
02/14/08
Colorado Springs Police conducted an investigation into the distribution of child pornography through out the state of Colorado. This investigation lead to 22 year old Juan Fernando Soto, who resided in Jefferson County. The information was forwarded to Supervisory Investigator Mike Harris of the Jefferson County DA's Office, who conducted a warrant at Mr. Soto's residence and a forensic examination of the computer system. Mr. Soto was arrested for 2 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child. On count a class 4 felony for possession of more than 20 videos/images of sexually exploitative material involving children, and one count was a class 3 felony for the distribution of sexually exploitative material involving children.
8. Colorado Springs Police Department
02/14/08
Acting
on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,
Colorado Springs Police arrested Kurt Buckmiller of Colorado
Springs. The tip alleged a party in Colorado Springs had sent child
pornography via email. After a month long investigation Mr Kurt
Buckmiller was arrested for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of Children
(class 4 felony) and Sexual Exploitation of Children (class 4 felony).
Investigation into the extent of Mr. Buckmiller's activities is continuing, therefore if anyone has any information concerning Mr Buckmiller's illegal activities, please contact Det. Adam Romine of the Colorado Springs Police Department. (719) 444-7609.
9. Colorado Springs Police Department / Jefferson County District Attorney's Office
02/26/08
A second suspect was also arrested in the child pornography investigation detailed in arrest #7. That suspect however is 17 years old and since he is a juvenile there will not be a photo or personal information released. The party was also arrested for 2 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, class 3 felony for distribution of child pornography.
10. Canon City Police Department
02/29/08
The Canon City Police Department arrested Lawrence Couturier when
he arrived at a predetermined, undisclosed location to meet with a 30
year old female and her 13 year old daughter. The arrest ended a four
month investigation. Couturier left Surrey, British Columbia on Friday
morning, crossed the border at 0615 hours, drove to Seattle, caught a
flight to Denver, and rented a car to drive to Canon City. Couturier
planned on taking pictures of the females while they were having
intercourse with him and each other. He actually planned on moving to
the area for the incestual family relationship and had attended a job
interview with a company out of Colorado Springs after he arrived in
Denver but before he arrived at the arrest location.
Couturier used the Yahoo screen names of "toy_4_daddy" and "wildbratcowboy". If anyone has any information pertaining to these screen names, please contact Officer Sage at the Canon City Police Department.
11. Douglas County Sheriff's Office
On 12-05-07, 44 year old Joe Camacho began chatting with a 14 year old girl from Lone Tree, Colorado. He was using the screen names joenotoe@yahoo.com and joenotoe0907@yahoo.com. Emails were exchanged and IP's were captured that listed back to Africa, Chevron, and Aurora. After several warrants were written it was discovered that Mr. Camacho was working for Chevron and assigned to Africa, but lives in Aurora Colorado. During the almost four month of contact, Camacho sent adult pornography, wanted to date the girl's mother to have access to the child and a meet was discussed but did not take place. During the investigation it was discovered that Camacho was in Texas visiting his kids before he was to leave for Africa again. Chevron is being cooperative and will be handing over all evidence involved.
A warrant was issued for Joe Camacho as he was a flight risk and the bond was set at $100,00.00. Corpus Christi Police Department ICAC Unit Sgt. Robert McFarland assisted with locating, arresting and interviewing Camacho for us and a confession was obtained. A huge thanks to him for his assistance. Another person to thank was Detective Gina Dillon with the San Antonio Police Department. After meeting resistance for much needed information from the Texas Department of Public Services, Detective Dillon got us the information we needed in a hurry....thank you so much! I would also like to thank Border Patrol for keeping an eye out for Camacho and ICE for their assistance.
Douglas County will be extraditing Camacho from Texas. No photo is available at this time.
12. Jefferson County District Attorney's Office
William David Gragg's Myspace Website where he had a picture posted of himself with 2 young girls with the caption stating "I'm thinking of Molesting these two girls". Jeffco DA's office investigators looked into the matter and the investigation revealed that 21-year-old Andrew Kenneth Rae was able to access Gragg's Myspace Account and change the information and password on Gragg's Myspace to show the picture and make it look like Gragg had some sexual issues. Rae confessed to doing this to Gragg's Myspace account on March 12, 2008. Rae was jailed on Criminal Impersonation, Computer Crime and Harassment.
13. Douglas County Sheriff's Office / ICE-DHS
04/02/08
44 year old Terry L. Morris travelled from Nebraska to Colorado to engage in sexual intercourse with an underage girl. He was arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and agents from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mr. Morris was indicted by the United States Attorney's Office in Denver on 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b) - Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) - Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity.
14. Freemont County Combined Investigative Response Team
04/04/08
Officers
of the Fremont County Combined Investigative Response Team (CIRT)
arrested 43 year old Joseph Dean Hamilton of Wichita, Kansas as the
result of an online investigation. Mr. Hamilton was charged with
numerous felonies to include; Criminal Solicitation, Enticement of a
Child, Internet Luring of a Child, Internet Sexual Exploitation of a
Child, Sexual Assault on a Child by Person in a Position of Trust,
Incest, and Sexual Exploitation of Children. Information developed
during the course of the investigation that Hamilton had two prior
convictions in the state of Kansas for sex offences against children.
It was also discovered that he had an active arrest warrant from the
Kansas Department of Corrections for being an absconder. Officers
from the CIRT are working with officials in Kansas to investigate
possible criminal violations in that state. Hamilton is currently
incarcerated in the Fremont County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash
only bond.
15. Jefferson County District Attorney's Office
04/16/08
The Colorado ICAC task force received a Cybertip (#566157), from the National Center for Missing and Exploited children. It turned out the suspect on the tip was a Jefferson County resident and the case was turned over to the Jefferson County DA's Office for further investigation. On April 16th, 2008 49-year-old William Wesley Wolf of Lakewood, Colorado, was arrested as a result of 2 Search Warrants and an Arrest Warrant based on the Cybertip information. On Search Wolf had 1800 images of children under the age of 12 to infants on his thumb drive. His computer system is still being examined for further. Mr. Wolf was charged with 2 Counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Distribution and Possession +20)
16. Colorado Springs Police Department / Georgia Bureau of Investigation
04/24/08
The
Colorado Springs Police Department conducted an undercover investigation
in a chat room, in which a suspect in Australia was streaming child
pornography via webcam to several parties in a chat room. Several
of these parties were actively receiving and commenting about the videos
they were watching. One suspect, 41 year old Christopher Carr,
was discovered to be located in LaGrange, Georgia. Special Agents
from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation served a warrant on the
suspects house and arrested him. He was found to have hundreds of
videos and thousand of images of child pornography. Mr. Carr is
currently in custody in Georgia for Sexual Exploitation of Children.
17. Douglas County Sheriff's Office / Parker Police Department
04/29/08
On 03/18/08 28 year old Kenneth Vickers began chatting on-line
with a 14 year old Lone Tree girl using the screen name (CO_M99@YAHOO.COM).
The chats became sexual and eventually ended up in Vickers wanting the
girl to have a sexual experience with another female. For fear that
Vickers would involve a real child, DCSO entered the chats as a 13 year
old female. The three of them chatted for over a month. DCSO and Parker
PD Detectives identified Vickers and an arrest warrant and a search
warrant of his home were obtained. On 04/29/08 Vickers was to meet the
girl for sex in Douglas County, but did not arrive. He stated he was at
a job interview in Ft. Morgan.
Three DCSO Detectives and one Parker Detective responded to Ft. Morgan, Co. and four DCSO Detectives and one Parker Detective responded to Ft. Collins, Co. to serve the search warrant. Through the cooperation and assistance of the Ft. Morgan Police Department Vickers was located and arrested. Once the search warrant was served at the home in Ft. Collins it was discovered that the house was a day care and was in an unfit condition. Ft. Collins PD responded as well as Human Services and started their own investigation. During the investigation Vickers also contacted Detectives from Parker PD, but no crime was committed.
Vickers was charged with 18-3-306 Internet Luring of a Child – 2 Counts, and 18-3-405.4 Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child – 18 Counts and was held on a $75,000 bond.
I would like to give a special thanks to the Ft Morgan Police Department, Ft. Collins Police Department, Parker Police Department, Inspector Anthony Scaffidi with the US Postal Inspection Service, and the Larimer County Department of Human Services who all played a significant role in the investigation of this case.
18. Fremont County CIRT
Members
of the Fremont County Combined Investigative Response Team (CIRT)
arrested a 41 year old Washington state man on a variety of charges
stemming from an undercover internet investigation. Andrew
Douglas Franz of Kent, Washington has been charged with Criminal
Attempt to commit the following crimes:
Criminal Solicitation, 4 felony
Enticement of a Child, 4 felony
Unlawful Sexual Contact, 1 misdemeanor
Sexual Assault on a Child, 4 felony
Trafficking in Children, 3 felony
Soliciting for Child Prostitution, 3 felony
Pandering of a Child, 3 felony
Inducement of Child Prostitution, 3 felony
Franz, an associate professor of Military Science at Seattle University, is alleged to have traveled from Washington State to Fremont County Colorado for the purpose of having a sexual relationship with an underage female. He was arrested without incident at an undisclosed location within the county.
Franz is currently being held at the Fremont County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash only bond.
19. Colorado Springs Police Department
On
02/28/08 24 year old Lewis McGee Duff was involved in a domestic
dispute with his 16 year old girlfriend. During the investigation
it was discovered that Mr. Duff was texting the victim. An
examination of his cell phone discovered that Mr. Duff had taken
sexually explicit images and videos of his underage girlfriend.
Those images and videos were recovered and had not been distributed.
Mr. Duff was charged for Sexual Exploitation of Children but in exchange
for a guilty plea and other concessions, Mr. Duff was placed on a new
Adult Diversion program. If completed successfully and Mr. Duff
does not have any additional incidents, the charges will be removed in
the future.
20. Colorado Springs Police Department / Washington State AG's Office
05/14/08
Registered
sex offender Benjamin C. Stribling was arrested after a joint
investigation with the Washington Attorney Generals Office - ICAC Task
Force. Stribling engaged in explicit conduct via the Internet with a 12
year old Washington resident. The Washington ICAC Task Force identified
Stribling, obtaining an arrest warrant for “Sexual Exploitation of a
Minor; Attempted possess of Child Pornography; Communication with a
Minor for Immoral Purposes” and notified the Colorado ICAC Task
Force. A search warrant was executed in El Paso County with the ICAC
Task Force agency, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office and the FBI.
Stribling was taken into custody without incident and placed into the
Criminal Justice Center on the Washington warrant, bond $200,000 and
Fugitive from Justice. Another victim has been identified in Colorado
Springs and Striblings computer is computers are being examined for
child pornography and additional charges are anticipated. Stribling is
currently on probation for sex offenses and extortion. If
you are underage and have had any contact with Mr. Stribling, please
contact Detective Blackwell at 719-444-7532.
21. Parker Police Department
05/21/08
In
March of 2008, communication between 32 year old Jude O’Reilly
(Yahoo! screen name, shootoff_69) and a Parker girl began which quickly
turned sexual in nature. Parker Police Department Detective Corcoran
continued communication with O’Reilly until April 30, 2008 when
communication ceased. Det. Corcoran applied for a court order for
records and learned O’Reilly was in NB Canada.
Detective Corcoran learned that on May 21, 2008, Royal Canadian Police in New Brunswick CA and ICE, (Internet Children Exploitation) kicked in the door and arrested 32 year-old Jude O’Reilly for child luring, a result of an under cover operation by Canadian Police. Corporal Jacqueline Basque of NB Police advised there were over 18,000 logged chats with children on O’Reilly’s laptop. NB Police are still in the process of sorting out other potential victims and additional charges. If you are under 18 years of age and chatted with shootoff_69 please contact Detective Corcoran at 303-805-3394 or Corporal Jacqueline Basque at 506-452-4993.
O’Reilly is an elementary school teacher and boys and girls rugby coach. The laptop he used was school issued.
22. Colorado Springs Police Department / Vermont ICAC Task Force
05/23/08
In
August 2007, the Colorado ICAC Task Force received a Cybertip (#511909)
which reported that Detectives from the Chittenden Unit for Special
Investigations had arrested a Vermont man for possession and
distribution of child pornography. Registered Sex Offender
Charles H. Meier Jr. was discovered to have chatted with the Vermont
man and exchanged images of child pornography with him. Colorado
Springs Police executed a search warrant at his residence and seized
computers. Mr. Meier admitted that he had been receiving child
pornography for years while posing as a woman online. He stated
that he deleted the images frequently from his computer. A
forensic exam confirmed that Mr. Meier did have child pornography on his
computer and he was arrested without incident by the Colorado Springs
Police Department fugitive unit.
23. Colorado Springs Police Department / ICE - DHS
05/29/08
Registered
sex offender Richard J. Conti was arrested after a joint
investigation with the Department of Homeland Security
–
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the CSPD ICAC Unit. Conti was found to have purchased
sexually exploitative images/videos of children from the Internet. When
arrested Conti had been identified as a registered sex offender from a
conviction of sexual exploitation of children in 2004. Conti was taken
into custody without incident.
24. Colorado Springs Police Department
06/02/08
The Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC Unit and the Douglas County Sheriffs Office ICAC Unit arrested 20 year old registered sex offender Daniel Rigsby for Internet luring and sexual exploitation. The victims met Rigsby online in MySpace and began a personal chat in both AIM and via text messages with their cell phones. Explicit images were sent to the two juvenile victims over a period of a month as the chats became more explicit. One victim had posted on a myspace blog that she would be at the mall on a certain day at a certain time. Rigsby travelled to Colorado Springs to meet the 14 year old girl without her knowledge and approached her at the mall. The girl was in the company of other friends and therefore was able to safely leave with those friends. Rigsby is a registered sex offender in Douglas County having been convicted in Jefferson County Colorado in 2005 for sexual offenses.
25. Littleton Police Department
06/06/08
On
June 6, 2008 at approximately 1215 p.m. Littleton Police Detectives
arrested PATRICK MICHAEL BAKER during an internet sting. A
nearly three week investigation culminated in BAKER’S arrest after he
showed up to meet an underage female with whom he had previously engaged
in sexually explicit, on-line conversations.
BAKER was booked into the Arapahoe County Jail on the following allegations: 18-3-306(1) INTERNET LURING OF A CHILD (a Class 4 Felony), 18-3-405(1) CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A CHILD (a Class 5 Felony)
26. Canon City Police Department
06/08/08
On
June 8, 2008 at approximately 2100 hours, the Canon City Police
Department, with the help of the Fremont County CIRT Team, arrested 35
year old Ward Ryan WELTY. Communications between Welty and an
undercover officer began in August of last year. Welty came to Colorado
for a family reunion in Estes Park and decided to make a pit stop to see
the adult female and her 9 year old daughter he had been corresponding
with. Welty wanted to have an incestual family with the two females if
they all hit it off together. Welty was booked into the Fremont County
Jail and bonded out a couple days later on a $50,000.00 cash only bond.
Welty was arrested on seven felonies and one misdemeanor to include
Attempted Sex Assault on a Child, Criminal Solicitation, Internet Luring
of a Child, Enticement of a Child.
27. Douglas County Sheriff's Office
06/12/08
On 06/12/2008 members of the Douglas County HTCU, SIU, and the Colorado Springs PD served both an arrest warrant and search warrant on an address in Colorado Springs. 27 year old Nathan MILLER was arrested and charged with Internet Luring of a Child, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, and Promotion of Obscenity to a Minor.
The investigation began in March of 2008 when “hotter_than_brad_pitt”, a 27 year old male contacted a 14 year old female in a Colorado chat room. The chats quickly turned sexual and MILLER began requesting meets for sex. Throughout the investigation, MILLER utilized the email address of eeelusiveee@yahoo.com and attempted to hamper any law enforcement efforts by providing information to the girl which falsely identified him as a known registered sex offender living in Colorado Springs. MILLER, who has no criminal history, was booked into the Douglas County Jail on 15 felony counts and placed on a $50,000 cash only bond.
28. Colorado Springs Police Department
06/25/08
The
Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force concluded a
12 month investigation into the online victimization of a child with the
arrest of registered sex offender Gerald Michael KING for
Sexual Exploitation of Children, a class three felony. The
involved agencies were the Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC Unit,
Pueblo County Sheriffs Office ICAC Unit and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Bureau.
The Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC Unit received a report involving sexually explicit images memorializing the abuse of a juvenile being created and distributed on the Internet. The explicit images were recovered from a home computer after a forensic examination. Emails, distributing the explicit images, were discovered and identified as King’s. It was discovered that in an attempt to conceal the identity of the person accessing the email account, the explicit images were accessed from computers at public libraries. King was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.
29. Westminster Police Department
07/03/08
Westminster
Police Department Detectives arrested 24 year old Justin Robert
Wilson, of Morrison, CO.
On July 2, 2008, Mr. Wilson was in an internet chat room using the screen name rebel_046, contacted a 14 year old girl. Mr. Wilson made sexual statements to the 14 year old girl and made arrangements to meet her for the purposes of having sex.
On July 3, 2008, Mr. Wilson was arrested after he responded to the location where he told the 14 year old he would meet her. Instead, he was met by Westminster Police and arrested. Mr. Wilson is currently in Jefferson County Jail and is facing charges of Internet Luring of a Child C.R.S. 18-3-306, and Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child C.R.S. 18-3-405.4
30. Westminster Police Department / Colorado Springs PD
07/10/08
On
04/16/08 The Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC Unit, forwarded
Westminster Police two CyberTips involving the distribution of Child
Pornography through AOL. The suspect in the incident was setting up
bogus AOL accounts and then trading child pornography through AOL
E-mails. The transactions were tracked back to a residence in
31 & 32. Colorado Springs Police Department
07/16/08
In
March of 2008 the Colorado ICAC Task Force received a Cybertip from the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), that a party
using the name cbrass81 tried to distribute child pornography via email
on AOL. The account was traced back to 21 year old Charles
Jeffrey Brassfield a soldier stationed at Ft. Carson and residing in
Colorado Springs. During the course of the investigation,
Brassfield was tied to a case by the New Jersey ICAC Task Force, by
having distributed child pornography to a suspect in New Jersey.
Mr. Brassfield was charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children.
During
the course of the investigation Mr. Brassfield's wife, 21 year old
Jocelyn Ann Brassfield was informed that Detectives had a search
warrant for a particular computer in her possession, which belonged to
her husband. Mrs. Brassfield disposed of the computer in an effort
to conceal the evidence of her husband's crime. Mrs. Brassfield
was charged with Accessory to a crime (Sexual Exploitation of
Children).
33 & 34. Colorado Springs Police Department / United States Marshall's Service.
07/17/08
The Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC Task Force began conducting an investigation in March when a citizen turned in a found laptop computer. The citizen had looked for information regarding ownership of the computer and located images he believed to be Child Pornography. After investigation the computer was linked to El Paso County resident 23 year old Cory Stoffel. A warrant was executed at the residence of Mr. Stoffel and his boyfriend known as Ray Lowe. Several items of child pornography were located in the residence and Mr. Stoffel admitted to possessing child pornography was well as have actual child victims. Mr. Stoffel was charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust.
Further investigation revealed that Mr. Stoffel's boyfriend was actually 30 year old Tony Lester, a sexually violent predator who had absconded from Virginia in 2006. Mr. Lester was also in possession of child pornography. Mr. lester was charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust. Additionally, Mr. Lester is pending indictment in Federal Court for failing to deregister from Virginia and failing to register as a sex offender while living in Colorado.
35. Colorado Springs Police Department / Florida ICAC / ICE / FBI / El Paso County Sheriff's Office
07/22/08
The
Colorado Springs ICAC Task Force was contacted by the Florida ICAC Task
Force in regards to an online investigation they were conducting.
A party in Colorado had spoken with a Florida man and encouraged him to
engage in sexual relations with his 10 year old daughter. He
masturbated on webcam for the 10 year old and sent child pornography to
show what the girl should be doing with her dad. The suspect was
identified as 68 year old Ronald Huffman who resides in El Paso
County. On 07/22/08, Members of the Colorado ICAC Task Force, ICE
& FBI conducted a search warrant at Mr. Huffman's address. Mr.
Huffman confessed to trading child pornography and was arrested for
Sexual Exploitation of Children.
36.Colorado Springs Police Department / Federal Bureau of Investigation
07/23/08
In March of 2008, the Denver office of the FBI contacted the Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC unit and requested assistance with the execution of a search warrant. The FBI had conducted an undercover investigation and a Special Agent in Buffalo had received child pornography from a residence in Colorado Springs. Investigation revealed that the perpetrator was a 16 year old and therefore the case was turned over to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Although this party was a juvenile, he had images/videos of children as young as infants. He was charged with multiple counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children. Due to his age his name and photo will not be released.
37. Colorado Springs Police Department / Federal Bureau of Investigation
07/28/08
In March of 2008, the Denver office of the FBI contacted the Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC unit and requested assistance with the execution of a search warrant. The FBI had conducted an undercover investigation and a Special Agent in Illinois had received child pornography from a residence in Colorado Springs. Investigation revealed that the perpetrator was a 14 year old and therefore the case was turned over to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Although this party was a juvenile, he had images/videos of children as young as infants. He was charged with multiple counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children. Due to his age his name and photo will not be released.
38. Colorado Springs Police Department / U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
07/28/08
In
July the Colorado Springs Police Department began an investigation of
the distribution of child pornography in Colorado Springs via the
internet. A video containing the sexual exploitation of children
was obtained from an IP address belonging to Orange Broadband which
services Fort Carson. U.S. Army CID was contacted and worked a
joint investigation with CSPD. The IP addess of the user was
traced back to 21 year old Frederick Pafume, a soldier and
military police officer living in the barracks on base. A federal
search warrant was obtained by CID and the soldiers electronic devices
were seized, including a hard drive that contained child pornography.
Mr. Pafume was charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children.
39. Colorado Springs Police Department / West Virginia State Police
In April 2006, the Colorado Springs Police Department began an investigation into the distribution of child pornography. Through the investigation, it was learned that Craig Cohernour, a resident of West Virginia, had used online photo sharing websites to distribute images of child pornography. The case was forwarded to the West Virginia State Police for follow up. After their investigation was completed, Cohernour was charged with Distribution of child pornography. Additional charges of producing child pornography and sexual assault on a child are pending.
40. Colorado Springs Police Department / Maine State Police
In
February 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Department began an
investigation into the distribution of child pornography in Colorado.
One of the subjects found to have traded child pornography was Ron
Martel of Biddeford, ME. The case was referred to the Maine State
Police, who subsequently arrested Martel for possession and
distribution of child pornography.
41. Colorado Springs Police Department
In
March 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Department began an
investigation into the possession of child pornography. Through that
investigation, it was learned that two Colorado Springs men, Cory
Stoffel and Tony Lester, had possessed and distributed child
pornography. It was also learned that Lester was a sexually violent
predator wanted by the State of Virginia. It was determined that
Kayan Sherrer assisted the men in avoiding capture after learning
that they had child pornography and that Lester was wanted. Sherrer was
arrested for Accessory to a Crime.
42 Colorado Springs Police Department / ICE / Veteran's Administration Police
In
April 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Department began an
investigation into the possession and distribution of child
pornography. Through a joint investigation between the CSPD and
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it was learned that Alan Lummus,
of Memphis, TN, has possessed and distributed child pornography to
hundreds of people all over the world. Lummus was a professor at the
University of Tennessee – Memphis and was found to have used government
computers to conduct the illegal activity. Lummus was charged with D
43. Colorado Springs Police Department / ICE / Pensacola, FL Police Department
PHOTO NOT YET AVAILABLE
Based on the investigation into Alan Lummus’ activities, a joint investigation was opened by CSPD, ICE and the Pensacola Police Department into one of the subjects found to have traded child pornography with Lummus. That subject was identified as Dave Hargrave of Pensacola, FL. Hargrave was found to have traded child pornography with Lummus. He was employed as the manager at a family entertainment center in Pensacola.
44. Colorado Springs Police Department / ICE / Massachusetts State Police
In
April 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Department began a child
pornography distribution investigation in which the suspect was located
in
45. Denver Police Department
08/07/08
The
Denver Police Department arrested
39 year old Joel
Franco for Internet Luring of a Child, Internet Sexual
Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Assault on a Child. Franco, using
the screen name “punishermarine”, contacted a juvenile female. Franco
masturbated on web cam while chatting to the girl. Franco then arranged
to meet the juvenile for the purpose of a sexual encounter. He was taken
into custody when he arrived at the meeting location.
46. Colorado Springs Police Department / ICE - Los Angeles Office
08/12/08
In
July of 2008, The Colorado Springs Police Department ICAC unit conducted
an investigation into the sharing of child pornography online in
Colorado. During this investigation, child pornography was
distributed to Colorado Springs from a suspect that turned out to be in
the Los Angeles, California area. The Los Angeles ICAC task for
was contacted and informed us that Immigration and Custom's Enforcement
(ICE) already had an investigation open on the suspect. The
suspect was identified as 22 year old Johnathan Geiser. A warrant
was executed at his house and located numerous files containing child
pornography. Mr. Geiser admitted in an interview that he was
responsible for trading the videos. Mr. Geiser was arrested on a
federal warrant without incident at his sister's residence and was
placed into the federal detention center by the U.S. Marshall's Office
pending first appearance before the federal magistrate.
47. Denver Police Department
08/13/08
The
Denver Police Department arrested 24 year old Tyson Cole for
Internet Sexual Exploitation of Children. Cole, using the screen
name “biddongftc”, contacted a juvenile female and repeatedly appeared
on web cam and masturbated for her. A search warrant was executed on
his Ft Collins home and it was discovered that he was growing marijuana
in his residence.
48. Park County Sheriff's Office
08/29/08
On 08/29/08, the Park County Sheriff’s Office arrested 53 year old Joseph Mahan Jr., a Bailey resident, for distribution and possession of 20+ images of child pornography. Mahan had his computer set up to share approximately 70 movies via peer-to-peer software. Det. Goto received depictions of the sexual exploitation of children from Mahan on multiple occasions in August. A search warrant was executed at Mahan’s house on 08/27/08. As investigators entered the house, Mahan was in the process of downloading more child pornography.
Mahan’s bond was set at $15,000. He bonded out the same day he was taken into custody.
49. Denver Police Department
09/08/08
The
Denver Police Department arrested 31 year old Eric Smith for Internet
Luring, Internet Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Assault on a
Child. Smith, using the screen name “gryphoninc”, contacted a
juvenile female. Smith attempted to meet the girl for a sexual
encounter and was taken into custody. Smith was caught on security video
buying condoms as he exchanged text messages with the girl while on his
way to meet her.
50. Fremont County Combined Investigative Response Team
09/24/08
Members of the Fremont County Combined
Investigative Response Team arrested Todd VECELLIO, a 38-year old
51. Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office / Colorado Springs Police Department
In
December 2007
the Colorado Springs
Police Department conducted an undercover investigation into the trading
of Child Pornography online via peer to peer networks. A video
file depicting the sexual exploitation of children was obtained from a
party who was determined to be located in Centennial, Colorado.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department was referred the case and
executed a search warrant at the residence of James C. Phipps.
When their investigation was complete, it was discovered that Phipps had
over 1000 images and videos of child pornography on his computer and
other digital media. Phipps admitted to downloading the images and
videos off of the peer-to-peer program Limewire. Phipps was arrested
for Sexual Exploitation of Children and is being held on
$50,000.00 bond.
52. Colorado Springs Police Department / New York City Police Department
In
April 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Department began an
investigation of into the distribution of child pornography by an
individual in
53. Colorado Springs Police Department / New York State Police
09/29/08
In February of 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Department conducted an investigation into the trading of child pornography in Colorado via peer to peer networks. During the investigation CSPD detectives obtained child pornography files from a few different parties. It was discovered that one of these parties was located in Glens Falls, New York. The information was forwarded to the New York State Police who did further investigation. As a result a 16 year old male was discovered was responsible for the distribution. The computer was seized and searched and the juvenile was arrested for possession and distribution of child pornography. Due to his age no photo or identifying information can be provided.
54. Canyon City Police Department
10/13/08
After
receiving Cybertip #447992 from the National Center for Missing and
Exploited children, the Canyon City Police Department conducted an
investigation that lead to the arrest of 29 year old Robert Roberts.
Mr. Roberts was arrested on a charge of Sexual Exploitation of
Children. Roberts was using the AOL screen name of "pickupman26".
A forensic analysis of Roberts' father's computer showed Roberts had
both received and sent emails containing sexually exploitive pictures of
children. Roberts' home computer was seized pursuant to a search
warrant and is being analyzed for additional evidence. Roberts was
booked into a
55. Denver Police Department / Adams County Sheriff's Office
10/24/08
Detectives
from the Denver Police Department and the
56. Denver Police Department / US Marshall's Office
10/24/08
On
10/24/08, 52 year old Edwin Wiesner, a registered sex offender
with previous conviction for sexual assault on child, was contacted
during
57. Denver Police Department / Park County Sheriff's Office
11/04/08
On
11/04/05, Denver Police Department, with the assistance
58. Parker Police Department / Jefferson County District Attorney's Office / Eagle County Sheriff's Office
11/05/08
On
November 5, 2008, 46 year old Gerald Schell, was arrested on a
Parker Police Department arrest warrant for internet sexual
exploitation. Schell had been using the screen name
"shadowrider4562", Mr. Schell had been in contact with a parker
juvenile since March 2008 and continued the contact until September.
Gerald began trying to set up a meeting with this underage girl when he
was arrested by the Jefferson County District Attorney's office on the
charges of internet sexual exploitation and internet luring in
September.
59. Colorado Springs Police Department / North Carolina Bureau of Investigation
Between
August and October 2008, Kevin Austin, a 60 year old male from
60. Colorado Springs Police Department
11/19/08
in April of 2008 the Colorado springs Police Department began an investigation into the trading of child pornography online and within Colorado. During this investigation it was discovered that a Widefield computer was distributing child pornography videos. A warrant was executed and resulted in the arrest of a juvenile male for Sexual Exploitation of Children. No name of photo can be released due to the age of the arrestee.
61. Denver Police Department
11/21/08
On
11/21/08, Allen Vecchio was arrested and charged with Internet
Luring and Internet Sexual Exploitation. Vecchio had been in
contact with a juvenile female online from July through November 2008.
He had attempted to meet the girl on several occasions for sexual
encounters. He also sent numerous adult pornography videos to the girl.
Vecchio was taken into custody at his job at Level 3 Communications.
62. Fort Collins Police Department / FBI
12/01/08
In
September 2008, Fort Collins Police received a Cybertip from the FBI
regarding the uploading of child pornography that had occurred in July
2007. Fort Collins Police executed a search warrant and seized a
computer owned by 28 year old Jake Yenny. During an interview
with Yenny, he admitted to having an addiction to child and adult
pornography. Initial examination of his computer revealed at least 60
images of child pornography and child erotica. Yenny was charged with
Sexual Exploitation of Children on 12/01/08 and plead guilty to
the charge on 12/19/08. Yenny received a 3 year deferred sentence and
has to register as a sex offender during this time until his treatment
is complete.
63. Denver Police Department
12/03/08
Joshua
Chesterson was arrested and charged with Internet Luring of a
Child. Chesterson had been having sexually graphic communications
online with a juvenile female. He then arranged to meet with the girl
in person. Chesterson was taken into custody at his home in
64. Parker Police Department / Orange County Sheriff's Office / FBI
12/04/08
On December
4, 2008, in a joint investigative effort by Parker PD, the Orange County
Sheriff's Office and FBI SAFE Task Force, 47 year old Jonathan
Peter CHRISTY was arrested in
In September 2008, Christy
contacted a juvenile female in Parker online. The chats quickly turned
sexual in nature and Christy began sending sexually explicit images of
children to the girl. Christy also requested to speak with a friend of
the girl’s. During their conversation, Christy instructed both girls to
engage in sexual conduct with each other. Christy’s contact with the
girls continued into December, and included a plan for him to drive to
Christy is in custody
awaiting extradition to
65. Denver Police Department
12/05/08
36 year old Balazs Toth contacted a juvenile female during the evening of 12/05/08. Toth sent the girl pictures of his penis and had a sexually graphic conversation. Toth also called the girl and arranged to meet her in person. Toth was taken into custody by uniformed Denver Officers at 1930 hrs as he arrived at the meeting location. Toth was found to be a teacher at St Catherine’s of Sienna Catholic School and at Escuela De Guadalupe. Mr. Toth faces charges of Internet Luring of a Child, Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Promotion of Obscenity to a Minor.
66. Aurora Police Department / Castle Rock PD
12/09/08
In
November 2008, a juvenile male from
67. Douglas County Sheriff's Office / Denver PD / South Dakota State Police
12/12/08
On
Friday, 12/12/08, 25 year old Daniel Lee Voss was taken into
custody for Internet Sexual Exploitation and Criminal Attempt Sexual
Exploitation of a Child in
68. Fort Collins Police Department
12/16/08
In
September 2008, Fort Collins Police were notified by a family member of
a thirteen year old girl that she was having potentially inappropriate
communications with an adult piano teacher in
69. Weld County Sheriff's Office
12/18/08
In May 2008, the Weld
County Sheriff’s Office received a cybertip regarding the distribution
of child pornography using the Google Hello website. Additional
information was developed and a search warrant was obtained in November
for the residence belonging to 44 year old Bruce Cameron Burns.
The resulting search located numerous items of evidence being seized and
analyzed by the Greely/ Weld County Forensic laboratory. In excess of
8000 images of child pornography were recovered.
On December 18, 2008, Burns, an employee
of the
70. Colorado Springs Police Department / Larimer County Sheriff's Office / ICE
12/19/08
In
December 2008, after a joint investigation by the Colorado Springs
Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office,
an Arrest Warrant was issued for Matthew Bynum, a 24 year old
Denver man, on the charges of Sexual Exploitation of Children (F3),
Sexual Assault on a Child (F4), Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child
(F4) and Internet Luring of a Child (F4). The investigation revealed
that Bynum had contacted several juvenile females around Colorado
online. Bynum convinced the girls to take sexually explicit photographs
of them. He also met several of the girls in person in order to have
sexual contact. One of the girls was identified as living in the
Colorado Springs area. Bynum is already in custody in Larimer County and
is awaiting transfer to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.
71. Fort Lupton Police Department
12/22/08
A
juvenile female in
72. Colorado springs Police Department / Tempe, AZ PD / FBI / ICE
12/12/08
In
November of 2008, the Colorado Springs Police Internet Crimes Against
Children Unit was investigating a group of parties trading child
pornography around the world. During the course of this
investigation it was discovered that in addition to trading child
pornography, one party was talking with underage girls about meeting for
sex as well as talking to adults about abducting, torturing and
disposing of children. Detectives began conversing online with
this party who was using the screen name "iamthecumster@yahoo.com".
This party later identified as 59 year old Christopher Youngs, a
native of New Zealand, stated he would be traveling to the United States
in December for the purpose of traveling the country and engaging in
sexual encounters with underage girls he had met online. Youngs
did travel from Qatar to the United States and was to travel to Colorado
later in December, however told officers he had engaged in sexual acts
with a 14 year old Arizona girl, was torturing her and intended on
killing her before the night ended. With the assistance of the
Tempe Police Department, FBI and ICE in both locations, Mr. Youngs
room was located. When officers entered the motel room, Mr. Youngs
was alone, however blood was located in the room and his rental vehicle.
Mr. Youngs was found to be in possession of over 1000 images of child
pornography and is being held in Arizona on charges of Possession of
Child Pornography. Additional Federal charges are anticipated
for Enticement of a Child Across State Lines. Tempe PD and
Phoenix FBI continue to investigate Mr. Youngs activities in the United
States, Qatar, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia.
