To Report a Crime
Call 866-347-2423
TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196
TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196
ICE HSI and local ICAC investigation leads to 25 years in prison for child exploitation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Eugene Charles McGrath, 55, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was recently sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for producing child exploitation materials.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Knoxville Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC).
“In order to fulfill our mission to protect vulnerable children from sexual online predators, HSI will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners to ensure these perpetrators are removed from the streets of our communities and unable to commit these horrific acts,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr.
McGrath pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging him with one count of using a minor to produce depictions of sexually explicit conduct. According to court documents, from 2006 through 2020, McGrath produced child exploitation materials of at least two minors under the age of 10. One of the videos he produced was distributed internationally. In addition to the images he produced, McGrath was also in possession of 103 images and 11 videos of other child pornography.
Upon his release from prison McGrath will be supervised for life by U.S. Probation. He will also be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.
HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of 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 over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 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.
If anyone suspect a child might be a victim of exploitation, you are encouraged to call the HSI Tipline at 866-347-2423, or visit https://www.ice.gov/tipline.
Learn more about HSI Nashville’s fight against child exploitation in your community at @HSI_Nashville.
Updated: