Rochester-area man sentenced to 47 years for producing child pornography
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Henrietta man was sentenced Monday to 47 years in prison for production of child pornography and other related crimes. The sentencing comes after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Bradley W. Pattee, 57, of Henrietta previously pleaded guilty Jan. 31, to 13 counts of producing, distributing and possessing child pornography.
"While today's significant sentencing cannot restore the loss innocence of the children depicted in the voluminous and monstrous images found in the defendant's possession, it should serve as a stark warning to those who engage in this behavior – HSI and our partners will be relentless in our pursuit of those who sexually exploit children," said James Spero, special agent in charge for HSI Buffalo.
"Today's punishment sends a strong message, if you engage in crime that could have lifelong effects on our children, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent," said U.S. Attorney for New York's Western District William Hochul. "As today's punishment shows, such conduct could also result in a lengthy sentence from the court."
During an April 2012 search warrant, HSI special agents seized numerous items of digital media, including computers, hard drives and other removable media, which constituted a trove of more than 5,000 images of child pornography. A forensics analysis of the seized content revealed several photos the defendant had taken of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
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.
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