News Releases and Statements

Keith Prescott Gace, a 39-year-old resident of Santa Fe, Texas, was convicted Nov. 19 of sexually exploiting a child, following a short jury trial. The jury deliberated for about one hour before returning the guilty verdict for sexually exploiting a child, aka producing child pornography.

From Nov. 6 to Nov. 8, as part of Operation Vigilant Shepherd, HSI Charlotte targeted predators who tried to entice juveniles to provide child pornography or engage in illicit sexual activities. The operation took place at several locations in York County, including a residence.

The indictment was unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) charging Anthony Cheedie, Chad Allen, Shane Hanna, Cameron Brewster, Kevin Handren, Joseph Ciaccio, a/k/a “Joseph Gallagher,” Joseph Minetto, Joseph Depaola, a/k/a “Joe Hall,” Derrek Larkin, a/k/a “Derrek Martin,” and Mattie Cirilo with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. Larkin and Cirilo also are charged with obstruction of justice.

Cobb County, founded December 3, 1832, is a suburban county of Atlanta with a population of 760,000. It is Georgia’s third most-populous county. The county employs approximately 5,000 people.

Manuel Amaya-Alvarez, 22, pleaded guilty in May to four counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering (VICAR). U.S. District Judge Jayne Boyle handed down Amaya-Alvarez’s sentence on Nov. 14.

According to court documents, David Speer Sr., 71, will be required to serve the entirety of his sentence without the possibility of parole. Speer was convicted of 24 counts of violations of Arizona State law related to child exploitation, specifically, 10 counts of production and possession of child pornography, 10 counts of voyeurism, four counts of child molestation and three counts of ongoing child sexual abuse. Speer’s guilty plea and sentencing was the same date, Nov. 8.

HSI Boston acting Special Agent In Charge Jason J. Molina joined U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI, Boston Field Division, Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, and Lawrence, Mass. Police Chief Roy P. Vasque in announcing the results of the operation at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. federal court building in Boston Nov. 15.

On April 16, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Jason Scott Pedro, 37, of Clinton, Oklahoma, for illegally possessing a firearm Feb. 7, 2019, during a traffic stop. In particular, he possessed a lower receiver of an AR-15-style rifle, along with five, loaded high-capacity magazines.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force, the Fort Worth (Texas) Police Department’s Major Case Unit Taskforce, which includes representatives of local law enforcement around the region, ICE's HSI, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

This operation vastly exceeded the HSI New Orleans 2018 totals, which resulted in 6,800 seized items valued at $800,000.

Billy Ray Mitchell, 48, from Corpus Christi, was sentenced Nov. 14 to 125 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Mitchell pleaded guilty to the criminal charges July 25, 2019.

Jose Carlos Henriquez-Escalante, 27, an MS-13 gang member, was removed from the United States via an ICE Air Operations charter flight and transferred into the custody of Salvadoran law enforcement authorities.

In FY 19, HSI initiated 4,224 child exploitation cases resulting in 3,771 criminal arrests, and identified or rescued 1,066 victims – an increase of nearly 18% over FY 18 and reflecting HSI’s firm commitment to ending these heinous crimes against children, wherever they occur.

Gary Pamperien was arrested at his Hicksville, NY home for possession of child pornography.

Matthew Curtis Olson, 36, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.