July 23, 2007

Dearborn man sentenced to 21 years for producing and receiving child porn
Agents found more than 160,000 images of child pornography in his home

DETROIT - A retired realtor from Dearborn was sentenced here today for manufacturing and receiving of child pornography. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Lee Edwin Garling, 65, of the 5400 block of Orchard Ave. in Dearborn, was sentenced to 262 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Julian A. Cook. Garling received 21 years, 10 months in prison for one count of manufacturing child pornography, and 20 years for one count of receiving child pornography, to run concurrently. Garling's prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, with no Internet access, and no contact with children.

ICE special agents, assisted by the Dearborn Police Department, conducted a search warrant at Garling's residence in November of 2006, where they seized two computer towers, each containing thousands of images of child pornography. A forensic analysis of the seized materials also revealed more than 160,000 child pornography images on CDs and DVDs, including a videotape containing Garling's sexually explicit contact with a four-year-old girl.

"All children have an absolute right to grow up free from the fear of sexual exploitation," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Detroit. "ICE will not cease in its pursuit of those who abuse our kids, whether that abuse is physical in nature or if it's accomplished through the exploitation of their captured images."

This case is part of Operation Predator, ICE's comprehensive initiative to safeguard children from foreign national pedophiles, international sex tourists, Internet child pornographers, and human traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 10,000 individuals nationwide, including 250 in Michigan.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. Investigators staff this hotline around the clock. 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 www.cybertipline.com.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mulcahy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.

-- 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.

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