Southern Arizona man sentenced to 340 years in prison for possessing and distributing a large collection of child pornography
CATALINA, Ariz. — A southern Arizona man was sentenced Wednesday to 340 years in prison for sexual exploiting a minor under 15 years old.
This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The investigation into Kimball Hoff, 61, began in October 2015 when HSI special agents received information regarding child pornography being downloaded and shared from a specific internet protocol address. On Oct. 27, 2015, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Hoff’s Pima County residence. Based on the overwhelming evidence identified during the search, Hoff was taken into custody and held in lieu of posting bail. According to court documents, HSI special agents discovered over 6,500 images and 800 videos of child pornography ranging from infants and toddlers to children in their early teens.
Hoff was indicted in November 2015 on all 20 counts of sexual exploiting a minor under 15 years old. Two years later, he was convicted by a jury trial.
“This multiple lifetime sentence should serve as a powerful deterrent to child predators who mistakenly believe the internet will enable them to indulge their perverse desires with impunity,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “HSI will continue to work closely with our local partners to hold these dangerous sexual predators accountable for their actions.”
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.
Hoff was sentenced by Arizona Superior Court Judge Howard Fell. This case was prosecuted by the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
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