Four Defendants Sentenced and One Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation Cases

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced dispositions in five separate cases in federal court in San Diego involving child pornography. United States Attorney Hewitt stated that the number of prosecutions of child pornography cases prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego has increased by approximately 96 percent from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2009.

In the first case, on October 1, 2009, Robert Eugene Bryant, a former Captain with the Chula Vista Fire Department, tendered his guilty plea for possession of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct before Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo. According to the plea agreement, Bryant also admitted to engaging in two online sexual chats with individuals he believed were minors. Final acceptance of the plea and sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., before United States District Judge John A. Houston. This case stems from an investigation by the Chula Vista Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.

In the second case, Jorge Antonio Lobo, a former surf coach at Muirlands Middle School, was sentenced on October 9, 2009, by United States District Court Judge William Q. Hayes to serve 18 months in custody and five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. The Court also required Lobo to register as a sex offender. Lobo pled guilty on September 5, 2008, to possessing a computer containing images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne K. Perry.

In the third case, Wayne Croteau, a janitor at a church, was sentenced on October 16, 2009, by United States District Court Judge William Q. Hayes to serve 160 months in custody and ten years of supervised release; the Court also required Croteau to register as a sex offender. Croteau tendered his guilty plea on April 30, 2009, before Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo to receipt of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). According to court records, Croteau admitted making purchases of child pornography with his credit card. Croteau further admitted to downloading images and videos of children, some as young as six years old, depicted in sexual acts. This case stems from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.

In the fourth case, Dustin Anthony Kram, a 20-year-old resident of San Diego, California, employed in the retail business, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino to serve 97 months in custody and five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. The Court also required Kram to register as a sex offender. Kram pled guilty on April 30, 2009, to distribution of images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, he possessed a computer and other media containing over 600 images of minors, some as young as 10 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults and each other. In sentencing Kram, the Court also took into account evidence showing that Kram used the social networking website “MySpace” to attempt to induce a minor to engage in sexual activity. This case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the ICAC Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Kanter.

In the fifth case, Robert David Schreiber was sentenced on October 19, 2009, by United States District Judge Marilyn Huff to serve 46 months custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $2500.00 fine. He must also register as a sex offender. Schreiber pled guilty to possession of images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In his plea agreement, he admitted that on or about March 16, 2004, he possessed a computer with over 600 visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, some as young as 5-6 years of age. Prior to his arrest, he was a self-employed business man with various financial investments. This case stems from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.

The San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is composed of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the Chula Vista Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the El Cajon Police Department.

These cases are being brought as part of the Department of Justice Project Safe Childhood (PSC), the FBI's Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI), and ICE’s Operation Predator. All are nationwide initiatives designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. For more information about PSC, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov., for additional information on IINI, please visit www.fbi.gov., and for additional information on Operation Predator, please visit www.ice.gov.

DEFENDANTS

Robert Eugene Bryant Chula Vista, CA Age: 37 Case Number: 09cr3186-JAH
Jorge Antonio Lobo La Jolla, CA Age: 53 Case Number: 08cr2978-WQH
Wayne Croteau Escondido, CA Age: 48 Case Number: 09cr1461WQH
Dustin Kram San Diego, CA Age: 20 Case Number: 09cr1459JLS
Robert David Schreiber La Jolla, CA Age: 57 Case Number: 09cr0114H

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) (Possession of Child Pornography)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) (Receipt of Child Pornography)

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
Chula Vista Police Department