August 23, 2007

ICE arrests Fort Stockton man on child pornography charges
Case is part of nationwide 'Operation Emissary II,' which targets users of child porn Web site

ALPINE, Texas - A Fort Stockton, Texas, man made his initial appearance in federal court here today after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested him as part of Operation Emissary II, a nationwide investigation targeting customers of a Web site that offered images and movies of hardcore child pornography.

ICE special agents and U.S. Marshals Service deputy marshals, assisted by Fort Stockton police officers, arrested Lawrence R. Norton, 41, about 1 p.m. Wednesday at his home in the 100 block of South Mendel. He is charged with possessing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Norton remains in the Brewster County jail in Alpine. A second hearing to determine custody conditions is set for 9:30 a.m. Monday.

El Paso ICE special agents received an investigative lead in March as part of Operation Emissary II. That lead was based on a credit card purchase Norton allegedly made on the Internet for access to child pornography. ICE special agents executed a search warrant at Norton's home Aug. 7, where they seized four computers and computer-related equipment. Forensic analysis of a computer revealed video clips and images containing child pornography that had been received through interstate commerce.

"The anonymity of the Internet may give some sexual predators a false sense of security," said Roberto G. Medina, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in El Paso, Texas. "However, technology has given ICE new tools to use in our enforcement efforts against those who exploit the most vulnerable among us."

The New Jersey ICE office initiated Operation Emissary in 2005. Since then, more than 200 people have been arrested nationwide as a result of the investigation.

-- ICE --