Jury finds Delaware man guilty of child sexual exploitation crimes

PHILADELPHIA — Following a three-day trial, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts Wednesday against a Newark, Delaware, man accused of child sexual exploitation crimes. The verdicts come after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Limerick Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Christopher Steele, aka Mike Dozer, 33, was convicted for use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and receipt of child pornography.

According to the investigation, Steele found his minor victim through a social networking cell phone application. He used the application to entice the victim into having sex. He then traveled from Delaware to Pennsylvania for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with that minor. Steele also received a visual depiction showing a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and participated in a scheme to sexually exploit minor victims.

"Child sexual exploitation crimes are among HSI's highest priorities," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. "We will continue to relentlessly pursue predators who sexually abuse children, whether that abuse is physical in nature or if it's accomplished by exploiting their images."

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S.Attorney Michelle Rotella.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 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 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair 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.