Wilmington man sentenced to prison for producing child pornography

WILMINGTON, Delaware — A Wilmington, Delaware man was sentenced to 210 months in prison on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, for possessing child pornography he produced himself, following an investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Delaware State Police.

Miguel Pagan, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography on April 25, 2018. U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet of the District of Delaware sentenced Pagan to serve 210 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, law enforcement found Pagan in possession of child pornography that he produced in his own bedroom using two prepubescent children.

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.

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.