April 2, 2009

Georgia woman admits producing child pornography

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A Georgia woman pleaded guilty today to producing child pornography after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Laura Culver, 53, formerly of Connecticut and last residing in Gray, Ga., pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to one count of production of child pornography. The announcement was made by Nora R. Dannehy, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut and Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Boston.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, in 2001 and 2002, Culver collaborated with Edgardo Sensi to videotape a minor girl engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The minor girl was approximately 8-years-old at the time of the offense and the videotaped sessions include Culver and Sensi engaging in illicit sex acts with the victim.

Judge Eginton has scheduled sentencing for June 19, 2009, at which time Culver faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Culver has been detained since her arrest on Oct. 3, 2008.

Special Agent in Charge Foucart noted that this investigation is part of ICE's Operation Predator, the agency's flagship initiative targeting child sex predators.

Anyone wishing to report suspicious activity to ICE may do so by telephone or email: 1-866-DHS-2ICE or Operation.Predator@dhs.gov.

Anyone may report suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) 1-800-843-5678 or www.cybertipline.com.

-- 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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