July 27, 2007

Former University of California employee sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography

FRESNO, Calif. - A former University of California (UC) employee was sentenced in federal court to 135 months in prison for receipt and possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.

Luis C. Rodriguez, 46, of Sanger California, was convicted by a jury in May 2006, as the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Fresno County Sheriff's Department, Computer Crimes Unit.

The investigation began when workers at a research laboratory at the UC Kearney Agricultural Center in Parlier, California complained about pornography that repeatedly appeared on a shared work computer. When an information technology specialist discovered images of naked children on the computer's hard drive, he contacted law enforcement. A forensic examination of the computer was performed and all users were interviewed.

The defendant denied downloading any child pornography, but soon after he was interviewed, he was seen destroying evidence at his home. Smoke was rising from a barrel in his back yard; and when agents arrived, they discovered images of child pornography burning in the barrel. They also discovered broken compact discs and numerous handwritten web site addresses linked to child pornography hidden in vehicles on the property, as well as a computer with an Internet connection but no hard drive. Fewer than 300 images of child pornography could be recovered.

Because Rodriguez obstructed justice by destroying evidence connected to the investigation, Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill agreed to a sentencing enhancement.

Rodriguez has been in custody since the conclusion of his trial, as a danger to the community and a flight risk. He will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on supervised release for 60 months following his release from prison.

-- 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: