News Releases and Statements

One way HSI helps foster such an environment is through workshops like the one it hosted June 16-18, when HSI Hong Kong partnered with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service – Overseas Criminal Investigations Division, the American Institute in Taiwan, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking International to share knowledge and techniques concerning online child exploitation investigations.

Richard Donald Ragsdale, 56, of Tampa, made his initial appearance on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun, III.

Abel De Leon, 60, of Asherton, Texas, was sentenced on one count of receiving child pornography. De Leon had previously pleaded guilty to the charge June 5, 2013.

HSI special agents arrested Oscar Gonzalez-Vazquez at his residence after a preliminary investigation revealed that he produced sexually explicit images of a 4-year-old girl.

As part of the PSA campaign, Radio One will air on two Columbus-area stations a 30-second and 60-second PSA, which features HSI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis discussing some basic tips on how parents and young people can avoid online predators.

David Wayne Sweet Jr., of St. Leonard, must also register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Jerry J. Zechmeister, 61, of Lake Forest, was taken into custody Thursday by investigators from the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF), including special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and detectives from the Newport Beach Police Department.

Jose Raul Ramirez Grande, aka Pecos, 35, was transferred to the custody of representatives from the Mexican Attorney General's Office in Tijuana. An arrest warrant issued in 2006 by authorities in Tijuana's judicial district accuses Ramirez of rape and aggravated sexual abuse against a minor involving three victims.

On Wednesday night, following three days of trial and four hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Erik A. Hentzen, 26, of the charges.

Aldo Contreras-Liberati, 46, left the country via an ICE Air Operations flight, departing from Louisiana.

HSI special agents and officers with the Michigan State Police and Battle Creek Police Department arrested John Baylo, 35, Friday, without incident on state charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Baylo is an on-air personality at Gaylord's Family Christian Radio station, WCSG.

Phillip Amisano-Camillo, 43, a resident of Canada, was sentenced on a single count of enticing a minor for sexual purposes.

Investigators at the HSI Cyber Crimes Center say that these shocking statistics are a reminder about how dangerous the Internet can be and that summer is a good time for parents to talk to their children about online safety. "Summer vacation is a time when children and teens often have more access to the Internet, making this a good time to talk about how to stay safe online," said Patrick Redling, unit chief of the center's child exploitation investigations unit.

Joseph L. Bryer, 53, of Grove City, pleaded guilty to the charge before U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak.

Maksym Shynkarenko, 35, of Kharkov, Ukraine, operated the website between 2005 and 2008. Shynkarenko was initially detained in Thailand in January 2009 pending extradition. He was transported to the United States and has been in federal custody since making his initial court appearance in June 2012. Shynkarenko previously pleaded guilty to the charge in January in Newark federal court.

Michael J. Carroll, of Milford, Connecticut, who was convicted in February by a federal jury, blamed a Target-style attack, referring to the recent data harvest by hackers on the national retailer, as the reason investigators found child pornography on his computers and in his email account.

Jose Santiago Hernandez-Lopez, 36, of Gainesville, was found guilty March 24 for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony. Hernandez-Lopez first illegally entered the United States on Sept. 8, 1991. He was convicted in 1998 by the Superior Court of Alamance County, North Carolina, for taking indecent liberties with a minor child.

Anthony Michael Gonzales, 23, pleaded guilty in December to one count of receiving images of child pornography. As part of his sentence, Gonzales will be required to serve a five-year period of supervised release following his incarceration, pay $50,000 in restitution to a victim, and register as a sex offender upon completion of his prison term.

Zackary Adam Knight of Carlisle, was charged in a four-count indictment filed by a Grand Jury in Harrisburg. If convicted of all offenses, Knight faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and fines up to $1,000,000.

Mark A. Chasey, 49, of Crescent, was charged in a four-count indictment. If convicted, he faces up to 70 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both.

HSI special agents investigating this case believe "John Doe," whose real first name may be Shaun, is an adult male between 40 and 50 years old. They do not have a photo of the suspect. Based on investigative clues, HSI special agents believe this person may be living within a 100-mile radius of the New Haven, Connecticut, area.

Bradley W. Pattee, 57, of Henrietta previously pleaded guilty Jan. 31, to 13 counts of producing, distributing and possessing child pornography.

Christopher Lee, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez-Ramos. Lee will also serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Lee pleaded guilty March 3.

Thomas Silber, 50, of Yardley, was charged with 10 counts of knowingly receiving, and attempting to receive child pornography.