U.S. Attorney’s Office

Middle District of Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

FBI Electronics Technician Charged With Child Pornography Crimes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 27, 2021 – An Antioch, Tennessee man employed by the FBI as an electronics technician was charged today with sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography. Justin D. Carroll, 38, was arrested by FBI agents this morning when he arrived to work at the Nashville FBI office. He will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later today.

The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Douglas Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office.

“I commend the leadership of the FBI for their quick and decisive action in this matter,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Once the suspect was identified as an FBI support employee, agents took swift action to prevent the continued victimization of this child and others. We will continue to work vigorously with our FBI partners to hold this individual accountable.”

“Once the FBI became aware of the alleged crime, an investigation was immediately initiated and investigated with all expediency, which culminated in today’s arrest,” said SAC Korneski. “Anyone who commits a federal crime should know that the FBI will investigate to the fullest extent allowable by law, particularly when they are one of our employees.”

According to the criminal complaint, Carroll was identified as the user of an email address which was connected to the facilitation and exchange of sexually explicit images and videos between Carroll and a 14-year-old female in Rhode Island.

The investigation began in March when a package was received at the Nashville FBI Office and although addressed to the building address, no recipient was indicated on the label. The package had a return address that listed the name and Rhode Island address of an individual who was later identified as a 14-year-old female. The nature of the package prompted a response from FBI bomb technicians and once opened, the package contained a teddy bear and candies.

Further investigation determined that the 14-year-old female met Carroll in an online chat room in the summer of 2020 and their communications continued over multiple communication platforms and eventually transitioned to Google Hangout and email, including her school email account. Messages sent by Carroll consisted primarily of descriptions of intercourse and professions of love and included sexually explicit photos and videos exchanged between Carroll and the minor female. All communications sent from and received by Carroll were determined to have been sent from his personal devices. Carroll had previously provided the minor female with his mailing address, listing the Nashville FBI Office’s street address.

The investigation also identified other accounts with which Carroll engaged or attempted to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors and the investigation remains active.

If convicted, Carroll faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 50 years in prison.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Daughtrey is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/fbi-electronics-technician-charged-child-pornography-crimes

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Vancouver, Washington, area man pleads guilty to multiple federal felonies for online sexual exploitation of teens

Defendant posed as teen and pressured victims across the country into sending sexually explicit photos, then blackmailed victims into sending additional videos

Tacoma – A Ridgefield, Washington, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to multiple federal felonies for his scheme to entice and pressure young teens into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos. Joshua Henry Punt, 39, pleaded guilty today to using the messaging apps ‘Kik’ and ‘Snapchat’ to connect with teens while posing as a teenager. Punt then enticed and pressured young teens to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Victims have been identified across the U.S., including New York, Arkansas, California, Texas, Nevada, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

According to records filed in the case, Punt presented himself in his social media accounts as an attractive teenager by using profile pictures of youthful YouTube personalities. After innocuous preliminary communications with his intended victims, Punt demanded sexually provocative and/or sexually explicit photos and videos. Unbeknownst to his victims, Punt recorded their videos and images on a second phone. So, for example, when a victim believed she was sending a “snap,” which would automatically delete or notify the sender if an attempt was made to copy it, Punt surreptitiously recorded the images and videos for future use. When victims inevitably became uncomfortable with his behavior and attempted to exit the “relationship,” Punt threatened to send the videos/images to members of their local communities–including schools, coaches, and others‑‑if they did not comply with his demands which included production of additional sexually explicit videos and images. The victims range in age from 12 to 16 years of age.

PUNT was arrested on May 21, 2019, and was originally charged in Clark County Superior Court. He was charged federally on November 7, 2019.

In a separate investigation, the FBI identified Punt as the administrator of a child pornography distribution group on Kik. As an administrator, Punt actively patrolled the group – demanding that new members share content and banning those that failed to share child pornography. An FBI online covert employee followed links posted by Punt leading to a cache of child pornography.

Punt pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, distribution of child pornography and advertisement of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2021 and faces a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 23 years in prison. Punt will be required to register as a sex offender following prison. Both the prosecution and defense will recommend that Punt be on supervised release for the rest of his life.

The case is being investigated by the Vancouver Police Department’s Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations. The FBI investigated Punt’s activity administering a site for the trading of images of child abuse and molestation. Law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions are also assisting this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angelica Williams and Cecelia Gregson are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/vancouver-washington-area-man-pleads-guilty-multiple-federal-felonies-online-sexual

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U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Chinese National Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Laundering Drug Proceeds on Behalf of Traffickers in Mexico

CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago today sentenced a Chinese national to 14 years in prison for laundering illegal narcotics proceeds on behalf of drug traffickers in Mexico.

XIANBING GAN schemed in 2018 to have approximately $534,206 in narcotics proceeds picked up in Chicago and transferred to various bank accounts in China, with the money ultimately intended for drug traffickers in Mexico. Unbeknownst to Gan, a purported money courier who picked up the drug proceeds in Chicago was an undercover law enforcement agent.

Gan, 51, is a Chinese national who facilitated the money transfers while residing in Guadalajara, Mexico. U.S. authorities arrested him in November 2018 at Los Angeles International Airport during a layover on a flight from Hong Kong to Mexico. He has remained in U.S. custody since then.

A federal jury in Chicago last year convicted Gan on three counts of money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin imposed the sentence today after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago; and Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.

“The defendant was part of a recent phenomenon in which a relatively small network of Chinese money brokers based in Mexico have come to dominate international money laundering markets,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J.B. Franzblau and Richard M. Rothblatt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Like defendant, many of these brokers are also engaged in legitimate business, and use that business as cover for and to further money laundering activity. It does not matter that defendant never personally distributed narcotics – drug distribution and money laundering are two-sides of the same malignant coin.”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chinese-national-sentenced-14-years-prison-laundering-drug-proceeds-behalf-traffickers

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/twice-convicted-sex-offender-sentenced-10-years-possessing-sexual-images-minors

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Twice-Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Sexual Images of Minors

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months’ imprisonment and lifetime supervised release on his conviction of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bisson imposed the sentence on Krent Jeffrey Haight, age 48, formerly of the City’s Mount Washington neighborhood.

According to information presented to the court, Haight, on November 14, 2018, unlawfully possessed approximately 1500 still images and videos in computer graphics files depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were under the age of 12 years. The images and videos were found on electronic devices seized by federal agents during the execution of a search warrant at Haight’s residence. During the search, Haight admitted to the agents that he uploaded numerous sexually exploitive images to Tumblr, a social networking website, making them available for public viewing.

Haight had two prior convictions for sex offenses, the most recent of which involved the possession of child pornography. He was a registered sex offender in the State of Pennsylvania.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that she believed a 10-year term of imprisonment and lifetime supervised release would serve to protect the public and to provide for just punishment.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Haight.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/waterford-man-charged-attempted-sex-trafficking-child

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Waterford Man Charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bradley Boisen, age 25, of Waterford, New York, appeared in court today on a charge that he attempted to pay $60 to an adult in order to have sex with a 14-year-old child.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the criminal complaint, on April 21, 2021, Boisen arranged to pay $60 to another person in order to have sex with a 14-year-old child. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In a hearing today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, Boisen was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

If convicted, Boisen faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life following any term of incarceration. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Boisen would also be required to register as a sex offender.

Anyone who wants to provide law enforcement with information about the defendant should contact the FBI Albany Field Office at (518) 465-7551.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the New York State Police and Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Rachel Williams as part of the United States Attorney’s Office-led Human Trafficking Task Force. This case is also prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit httos://www.justice.gov/psc.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/parkersburg-man-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-charge

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Southern District of West Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, Timothy Paul Rapson, 39, admitted to distributing child pornography on December 31, 2019 using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. The investigation further revealed that Rapson possessed over 73,000 images and videos of prepubescent child pornography.

Rapson pleaded guilty to distribution of prepubescent minor child pornography and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on July 26, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and praised the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is handling the prosecution.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-000175.

DHS Announces Operation to Target Criminal Smuggling Organizations

Release Date:

April 27, 2021

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced a new counter-network targeting operation focused on transnational criminal organizations affiliated with the smuggling of migrants.

“Transnational criminal organizations put profit over human life, with devastating consequences,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “With the help of our federal and foreign partners, we aim to cut off access to that profit by denying these criminals the ability to engage in travel, trade, and finance in the United States. We intend to disrupt every facet of the logistical network that these organizations use to succeed.”

The new anti-smuggling effort, called Operation Sentinel, is a collaborative effort with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department of State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration of the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Smuggling operations continue to lie and exploit vulnerable populations to promote their criminal enterprise – the health and safety of migrants does not influence their lucrative ambition,” said CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller. “This operation is designed to disrupt every facet of the logistical network of these criminal organizations. Our goal is to enhance the security of the U.S. border and help save the lives of those who are preyed upon by these unscrupulous criminals.”

“ICE agents combat cross-border criminal activity every day to ensure the overall safety, security and well-being of our nation,” said Acting ICE Director Tae D. Johnson. “Collaborating on this endeavor with our partners amplifies our ability to disrupt and dismantle these criminal organizations that exploit and dehumanize people.”

"We are proud to be part of this effort to stop transnational criminal organizations and their networks from smuggling human beings across our borders," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee.

Partners in Operation Sentinel will target all personnel and identifiable resources that transnational criminal organizations require to operate. Utilizing the full breadth of domestic and foreign authorities, data, analytic capability and capacity, Operation Sentinel will map the organizations’ networks; target their members, associates, and assets; and employ a series of targeted actions and sanctions against them. Examples of these actions include:

Revocation of travel documents

Suspension and debarment of trade entities

Freezing of bank accounts and other financial assets tied to TCO logistical networks.

Transnational criminal organizations pose significant dangers to migrants as they not only seek to profit from their exploitation but also have little regard for their wellbeing, exposing them to violent encounters, injury, and death. These organizations are complicit in sexual assaults, human trafficking, and abandonment of vulnerable migrants – including tender-aged children. In Fiscal Year 2020, Border Patrol located 250 migrants who died during their journey.

>>13526736

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/04/27/dhs-announces-operation-target-criminal-smuggling-organizations

>>13526826

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