Minnesota man sentenced to nearly 22 years in federal prison for producing and receiving child pornography
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota man was sentenced Thursday to nearly 22 years in federal prison for producing and receiving child pornography.
This sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Brooker, District of Minnesota. This case resulted from an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Hutchinson (Minnesota) Police Department, McLeod County (Minnesota) Attorney’s Office, and the Kent Police Department in the United Kingdom.
Jeremy David Mount, 41, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, pleaded guilty Feb. 9, 2017, to one count of receiving and one count of producing child pornography. He was sentenced to 262 months in prison on July 27 before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. He was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release.
“This case exemplifies what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies — nationally and internationally — work together to stop a predator,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Buzicky. “These are some of the most difficult types of cases to work, but seeing defendants, like Jeremy Mount, receive just sentences and knowing that one more child is safe from harm makes it all worthwhile.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to bringing to justice those who sexually exploit children,” said Alex Khu, special agent in charge of HSI St. Paul. “Jeremy Mount will be incarcerated for nearly 22 years for his heinous acts. This case exemplifies the long reach of HSI, and its ability to coordinate and pursue investigative efforts with our international law enforcement partners.”
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, in February 2016, HSI special agents received a lead from an undercover officer with the Kent Police Department in the United Kingdom regarding an individual who was sharing child pornography images online. HSI identified the individual as Mount. After obtaining a search warrant, they executed a search warrant at his apartment in Hutchinson. Law enforcement agents identified dozens of child pornography images Mount traded and possessed using a computer and email account, as well as a cellphone containing several dozen images of a preschool-age child to whom he had access.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine T. Buzicky, District of Minnesota.
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 16,000 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 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 victims identified or rescued.
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. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
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 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.
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