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July 20, 2010

ICE special agents capture man who faces charges for international child exploitation

MIAMI - Robert John Marone, 49, of Wilton Manors, Fla., was arrested on Friday, July 16, at Miami International Airport following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations. Marone is charged with taking custody and control of minors for the purpose of taking sexually explicit images. If convicted, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 30 years in prison.

On Friday, July 16, ICE special agents arrested Marone, a U.S. citizen, at Miami International Airport, after he arrived from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

According to a federal criminal complaint, on March 6, Marone was arrested in the Dominican Republic for taking sexually explicit photographs of four minor children in Santo Domingo. Marone was deported by Dominican authorities to Miami and had his initial appearance in Miami before US Magistrate Judge William Turnoff yesterday, July 19. He remains in custody pending a pre-trial detention hearing, which occurred on July 22.

ICE Special Agent in Charge in Miami Anthony V. Mangione said, "This case reveals the disturbing truth that some adults will go to great lengths to travel outside the United States to try to evade law enforcement and sexually exploit minors. ICE is committed to apprehending and presenting for prosecution cases that victimize our children. ICE will continue working with foreign law enforcement authorities to ensure that those who try to hurt children are identified, arrested and brought to justice."

U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, "This case confirms that Americans who seek to sexually exploit children cannot evade the reach of U.S. law by committing their crimes abroad. Thanks to the cooperation of the Dominican government, we have brought this predator to justice."

The investigation was conducted by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations in Fort Lauderdale and the ICE Attaché in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with instrumental assistance by the Dominican National Police and the Dominican Attorney General's Office.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.