Pennsylvania man sentenced to 78 months for distribution of child pornography

PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania man was sentenced Thursday for distribution of child pornography Wednesday to 78 months in federal prison. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Abington Police Department.

Gary Kent, 41, of Dresher, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge R. Padova. He was indicted by a federal grand jury May 30, 2013 and pleaded guilty January 24, 2014 to one count each of distribution of child pornography and possession of child exploitation material.

In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and pay a $3,500 fine.

In March 2013, HSI Philadelphia was notified by the PSP and Montgomery County District Attorney's Office that they had executed separate search warrants and arrested Kent for distributing child pornography through a peer-to-peer program. HSI Philadelphia began an investigation into the case, conducting additional forensic examinations on items seized during both search warrants. Special agents discovered a large child pornography and child erotica collection. The forensics examinations also revealed that Kent was involved in the receipt and distribution of child exploitation material.

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.