May 21, 2007

Detroit man sentenced to 60 months in prison for distributing child pornography

DETROIT - A Detroit man was sentenced today to five years in prison for distributing child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Andre Williams, 34, of the 3000 block of Garland St., Detroit, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Bernard A. Friedman to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.

Williams was arrested in October 2005 under Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to apprehend those who commit sexual crimes against children.

ICE special agents executed a federal search warrant at Williams' residence in December 2003 and seized two computers and two compact discs. A forensic analysis of the seized items revealed 94 movie files containing child pornography, along with 1,871 of child pornographic images. The sexually explicit images consisted of prepubescent boys between the ages of 10-16 years old.

"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 9,800 individuals nationwide, including 223 in Michigan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson, Western District of Michigan, successfully prosecuted the 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.

  Last Modified: