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Release No. 07-155
December 10, 2007
CAPTURED FUGITIVE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BY TAKING PICTURES OF LEWD ACTS BETWEEN HIMSELF AND 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A former Long Beach man who pleaded guilty to producing child pornography after being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list was sentenced today to a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Richard Steve Goldberg, 62, who was returned from Canada earlier this year, was sentenced this morning by United States District Judge John F. Walter.
Goldberg pleaded guilty in August to one count of producing child pornography, admitting that in 2001 he took digital photographs depicting sexual conduct between himself and a 5-year-old girl. The photos were discovered by Long Beach Police Department investigators after another young girl complained to her family that Goldberg had acted inappropriately while entertaining three young girls. During the investigation, Goldberg fled.
After being charged by local authorities with performing lewd acts on children and with federal charges of producing child pornography, Goldberg was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. Earlier this year, the FBI developed information that Goldberg was in Montreal after an informant saw his picture on the FBI’s website. Canadian authorities arrested Goldberg on immigration violations and deported him to the United States.
Today in court, Judge Walter referred to Goldberg’s crimes as “unspeakable acts.” Responding to a journal written by Goldberg in which he blamed his victims and their parents, as well as his digital camera, Judge Walter said he was disturbed by Goldberg’s efforts to rationalize and excuse his conduct, referring to one claim as “pathetic” and another as “preposterous.” The judge also called Goldberg a “coward” for not returning to the United States to face the charges against him.
“This case should serve as a warning to all child predators: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and your perverted acts will land you in prison,” said United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien. “My office has a long history of prosecuting defendants who exploit children, and with new laws, we are seeing more people like Mr. Goldberg sentenced to long prison terms.”
The case against Goldberg is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Long Beach Police Department. Goldberg was taken into custody through the efforts of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Montreal Police Service.
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Release No. 07-155
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