HSI Tulsa field office investigation leads to life sentence of military dependent for child sexual abuse
DALLAS — An Oklahoma man who sexually abused a child while he was a military dependent at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in the Republic of Korea was sentenced to life in federal prison following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tulsa-led joint investigation.
Derek Flaming, 37, was found guilty after being convicted by a jury for receipt of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children, distribution of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children, aggravated sexual abuse, and attempted sexual abuse.
“Children should never be subjected to abuse. They are our most precious assets, and we will do everything possible to protect them by removing predators from our communities,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes. “This defendant’s life sentence stands as a testament to the dedication, collaboration and resilience of all law enforcement partners involved in this investigation. Now, the healing process can begin.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly of the Northern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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