January 30, 2008

Orlando predator who victimized more than 50 children and recorded sexual acts is sentenced to more than 17 years in prison
Victims in Cambodia included a four-year-old child

ORLANDO - A 50-year-old predator who pleaded guilty to traveling to Cambodia to engage and record his sexual acts with children as young as four was sentenced here yesterday to 17 1/2 years imprisonment to be followed by a life term of supervised release following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

William Irey's sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell.

According to court documents, Irey traveled to Cambodia and took digital pictures of himself having sex with children. ICE special agents seized over 1,200 images of child pornography from Irey's computer. The pictures taken by the defendant were of numerous children performing sex acts with and on him and other children in front of a pink wall. The series of pictures of abuse became known as the "Pink Wall Series" and it was distributed worldwide over the Internet by Irey. It is estimated that Irey victimized more than 50 children over the past six years.

"This predator victimized the most vulnerable segment of our society-our children," said Robert Weber, ICE special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Tampa. "Those who think that they will perform these heinous acts and get away with it are sorely mistaken. We will come after you to arrest you and place you behind bars where you belong."

This case was investigated by ICE with the assistance of the Brevard Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia A. Hawkins.

This investigation is part of Operation Predator, ICE's comprehensive initiative to safeguard children from pedophiles, international sex tourists, Internet child pornographers and human traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 10,700 individuals nationwide.

ICE encourages the reporting of suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: