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March 25, 2009
ICE arrests Army policeman on child pornography charges
Investigation revealed suspect bought more than 2,000 explicit images and videos via the Internet
EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday arrested a U.S. Army military policeman on child pornography charges.
A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted Grady Michael Riley, 33, a military police staff sergeant stationed at Fort Bliss, for possessing child pornography.
The Army Criminal Investigation Division assisted with Riley's arrest on base at about 4 p.m. Monday.
ICE special agents executed a federal search warrant at Riley's residence Feb. 9 in the 12000 block of Hosea Street and seized two home computers. A forensic analysis of Riley's computers revealed more than 2,800 sexually explicit images and 150 videos of child pornography.
The nearly yearlong investigation revealed that Riley purchased child pornography on the Internet.
"All child pornography victimizes the children involved," said Julio M. Velez, acting special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in El Paso. "ICE special agents are committed to targeting anyone who produces, distributes or possesses child pornography. We will pursue their prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."
Riley made his initial appearance in federal court March 24, and remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Last year, ICE agents in El Paso arrested two other local men on child pornography charges. In July, Arkon Caldwell, 26, another military police officer stationed at Fort Bliss, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison, and 15 years supervised release. In May, Manuel Lopez, 31, was sentenced to 70 months.
Working with the U.S. Attorney's Office, ICE also pursued prosecution of other El Paso residents. In December 2008, Gustavo Solis Martinez, 36, received a 180-month sentence and 10 years supervised release after being convicted for engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old. In September, John Fox, 53, received a 120-month sentence that included 10 years supervised release for producing sexually explicit images of a minor for importation. John Armstrong, 52, was sentenced in January 2008 to 110 months in prison and 10 years supervised release for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.
These investigations, including Riley's, are part of Operation Predator, a comprehensive ICE initiative launched in July 2003 targeting anyone who preys on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
Additional information about Operation Predator is available at www.ice.gov . Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may also be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
-- ICE --
