Panama City man indicted on receipt and possession of child pornography

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Timothy Sorrell, 63, of Panama City, was indicted Tuesday for the receipt and possession of child pornography, following an investigation being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).

On Jan.11, BCSO executed a search warrant on Sorrell's residence in Panama City to search and seize any computers. The indictment stems from the results of that seizure.

The two count indictment alleges that between Nov. 7, 2007, and Jan. 11, Sorrell received and possessed child pornography that had traveled in interstate commerce.

If convicted, Sorrell faces a sentence of 5 to 20 years imprisonment for receipt of child pornography, and a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for possession of child pornography.

This prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle E. Littleton.

The investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.