February 15, 2007

Retired realtor pleads guilty to producing, receiving child pornography
More than 160,000 sexually explicit child pornography images were found in his residence

DETROIT - A retired Dearborn realtor pleaded guilty here today to manufacturing and receiving child pornography. This plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Lee Edwin Garling, 65, of the 5400 block of Orchard Ave. in Dearborn, entered his plea today in front of U.S. District Court Judge Julian A. Cook.

Garling was arrested under Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to apprehend those who commit sexual crimes against children.

ICE special agents, assisted by the Dearborn Police Department, conducted a search warrant at Garling's residence in November and seized two computer towers, each containing thousands of images of child pornography. A computer forensic analysis of the seized materials revealed 160,562 child pornography images on CDs and DVDs, including a videotape containing Garling's sexually explicit contact with a 4-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 relentlessly pursues predators who sexually abuse children, whether that abuse is physical in nature or if it's accomplished by exploiting their images." Moskowitz oversees the states of Michigan and Ohio.

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 9,500 individuals nationwide, including 223 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 http://www.cybertipline.com.

Garling remains in custody; his sentencing is scheduled for May 10.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mulcahy, Eastern District of Michigan, prosecuted this 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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