U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Protecting national security by enforcing our nation's customs and immigration laws
Report suspicious activity 1-866-DHS-2-ICE
Quick Links
News Releases
March 5, 2007
Alabama man sentenced to more than 15 years incarceration after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Michael A. Holt, special agent in charge of the Office of Investigations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Orleans and Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama announced today that Warren Edward Behling, Jr., 59, of Jefferson County, was sentenced to 188 months in prison. Behling was indicted in September 2006, and pled guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography in October 2006. This investigation is the result of law enforcement monitoring Internet sites relating to child pornography.
On March 1, 2007, Warren Behling was sentenced in the Northern District of Alabama to concurrent sentences of 10 years incarceration and 15 years and 8 months incarceration after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography. In addition, Behling was sentenced to 30 years supervised release upon release from federal prison. The judge sentenced Behling at the high end of the federal sentencing guidelines based on the egregious nature and content of the images he possessed on his computer. This investigation was initiated following a collateral lead received from a New York Operation entitled Underscore, which identified Behling as a subscriber to a known child pornography website based in Russia. In August 2006, ICE agents executed a federal search warrant at Behling's residence in Birmingham that resulted in the seizure of computer hardware and peripheral storage devices that contained images of child pornography.
"Predators exploit children in immeasurable different ways," said Michael A. Holt, ICE special agent in charge of the Office of Investigations in New Orleans. "ICE will continue to work diligently with U.S. Attorney's and local police and sheriff's departments to hold those who prey on the most vulnerable in society, responsible for their actions."
"Child pornography is not a victimless crime," said U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. "Each photo or video clip represents an assault on the innocence of a living child, and memorializes unspeakable sexual abuse and exploitation. In the case of Behling, the child pornography included images of infants and small children involved in sexual acts with some children being bound."
Sheriff Mike Hale and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) were instrumental in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, John England, prosecuted this case.
-- ICE --
