News Releases and Statements

A judge in the Southern District of Texas convicted Edgar Botello, 30, of conspiracy to sex trafficking; sex trafficking with force, fraud or coercion; and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, the HSI investigation of Justin Richard Mezera, 34, began after someone filed a tip online saying the man used his Kik account to have child pornography related discussions.

Recording artist Robert Sylvester Kelly, also known as R. Kelly, was sentenced by United States District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber to 20 years in federal prison, 19 of them concurrent with the 30-year sentence previously imposed in the Eastern District of New York Feb. 23.

Xavier Jay Reyes, 26, pleaded guilty to the charges Aug. 15.

A judge sentenced Robert Ficzner, 27, of Fishers, Indiana to 13 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material following a joint investigation between HSI and other agencies.

According to court documents, Albert Douglas Ackley, 60, uploaded and shared 10 files containing child sexual abuse material over a mobile messaging app.

A judge sentenced Jacob Chance Greer, 27, of Des Moines to 20 years in prison for knowingly receiving child pornography.

Ryon Travis, 39, was convicted of production of child pornography and sex trafficking after a jury trial in July 2022. Travis was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Bernard A. Friedman.

A federal court convicted Christopher William Kuehner, 38, of Bremerton, Washington, Tuesday, while co-defendants, Jacob Royce Mullins, 20, of South Webster, Ohio; Kyle William Leishear, 43, of Bayonet Point, Florida; and Matthew Martin, 25, of Lancaster, Wisconsin pleaded guilty to their roles in the enterprise.

Dakotah James Gilmore, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Aaron Joseph Kearney, 50, of Lincoln, to 13 years imprisonment for possession of child pornography on Jan. 20.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that a jury found Dalonte Foard, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, guilty Jan. 24 after a four-day trial in federal court for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking following an HSI and law enforcement partner investigation.

Javier Alejandro Parada, 36, used a social media account to share nearly 35 files containing child sexual exploitation material in a group chat between Dec. 31, 2020, and Jan. 2, 2021, according to court documents.

United States District Judge James D. Cain Jr. sentenced Garrett Michael Faulk, 25, to 21 years and 10 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Cain also sentenced Faulk to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000.

Ian Fried, 57, received the lengthy prison sentence at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Jan. 13.

Jaycob Andrew Bustamante, 21, was sentenced Jan. 10 to 204 months in prison to be followed by 30 years of supervised release.

Oscar Barrera, 29, was sentenced Jan. 9 to 220 months in prison. Barrera pleaded guilty April 4, 2022, to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Gregory Lukassen, 50, of Omaha, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha for distribution and receipt of child pornography, Jan. 5, following joint HSI investigation.

An investigation led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore field office resulted in a 45-year federal prison sentence, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for a registered sex offender for the sexual exploitation of two minor girls to produce child pornography. Dennis James Harrison, 40, of Rocky Ridge, received the lengthy sentence Jan. 3 after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting the minors, who were between the ages of 10 and 12 at the time of the abuse.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the sentencing of Jorgen Johannssen, 24, of Fremont, Jan.4, for distributing child pornography following an HSI Kansas City probe.

HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar announced Monday, that Christopher James Masterson, 35, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was sentenced to 30 years in the Bureau of Prisons for the sexual exploitation of minor children.

Richard Lee Molinar, 44, of Safford, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months in prison for child exploitation offenses.

Todd Christopher Roatsey, 43, a former counselor at Pinch Elementary School in Kanawha County received the lengthy sentence Monday for attempted production of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor. Roatsey must also pay $23,000 in restitution to his victims and register as a sex offender.

A large percentage of these sextortion schemes originate outside the United States, primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast. As children enter winter breaks this holiday season, HSI and whole-of-government partners encourage parents and caregivers to engage with kids about sextortion schemes to help prevent them from becoming victims.  

Alfonso Salcido Herrera Jr., 45, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 20.