March 18, 2008

Federal inmate from Spokane sentenced to additional 20 years in prison

SPOKANE, Wash. - A Spokane man currently serving time in federal prison will have his sentence extended 20 years following his guilty plea on child pornography charges as the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.)

In February 2006, Terry Dallas Griffith, 39, began serving a 57-month sentence on child pornography production and possession charges. After he reported to prison, new information on Griffith came to the attention of federal law enforcement officials, prompting further investigation.

While Griffith was incarcerated in a federal prison in California, Bureau of Prison officials discovered items in his possession that led to the execution of a search warrant on a storage shed belonging to him. Inside the shed, federal agents found thousands of images of child pornography previously undiscovered by law enforcement. They also seized a pornographic videotape produced by Griffith showing a child under the age of 12.

At the completion of the second investigation, Griffith pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. It is these charges that resulted in today's 20-year sentence.

"This is a significant sentence and fitting for this man's actions," said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of ICE's office of investigations in Seattle. "ICE remains committed to investigating this type of activity to prevent the exploitation of children."

Following his release from prison, Griffith will be subject to a lifetime of court supervision.

-- 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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