San Diego Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

Keith Slotter, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Diego Field Office, announces the arrest of Gary Delaney Phillips, age 54 on federal child pornography charges.

Phillips was arrested today at approximately 8:30 a.m. at his San Diego residence. Phillips was arrested by agents and detectives from the Chula Vista Police Department, San Diego Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the FBI.

According to the federal complaint filed in this matter, investigation into this matter was initiated after an FBI agent conducting investigation into traders of child pornography discovered e-mail communications from Phillips that expressed a sexual interest in children and indicated that he possessed images of child pornography.

Based on this information and other information obtained throughout the course of this investigation, members of the Chula Vista Police Department, the San Diego ICAC task force, and FBI agents served a federal search warrant at Phillips’ residence today.

Seized during this search were images depicting children engage in sexually explicit conduct. Phillips admitted to possessing these images.

Phillips has been booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center and is expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on or about Tuesday, October 11, 2011. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This investigation was conducted under the FBI’s Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI) in coordination with the San Diego ICAC task force. The FBI and ICAC task force members work together to reduce the vulnerability of children to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse which are facilitated through the use of computers; to identify and rescue child victims; to investigate and prosecute sexual predators who use the Internet and other online services to sexually exploit children for personal or financial gain; and to strengthen the capabilities of federal, state, local, and international law enforcement through training programs and investigative assistance.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Charges

Title 18 U.S.C. 2252 (a)(4)(B)- Possession of Images of Children Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct

Investigating Agencies

Chula Vista Police Department
San Diego Police Department
Naval Criminal Investigative Services
FBI
San Diego ICAC