Child Pornographer Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison

SPOKANE—Today, Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Darrel Wayne Monzingo, age 45, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced to 161 months in prison for possession and distribution of child pornography. After he serves his prison sentence, Mr. Monzingo was ordered to remain under court supervision for the rest of his life.

In November 2010, the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of Colorado Springs, Colorado, discovered an individual trading and sharing child pornography over the Internet. Further investigation revealed that the individual was located in Spokane, Washington, so the Spokane Police Department was notified. On December 16, 2010, the Spokane Police Department executed a search warrant at Mr. Monzingo’s home in Spokane. Officers seized nearly three dozen items of digital equipment containing several thousand images of child pornography. Officers also seized digital images of an 8-year old girl’s genitals that Mr. Monzingo photographed. After an indictment was filed, Mr. Monzingo was taken into federal custody on January 20, 2011, and has remained in custody ever since.

Michael C. Ormsby, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, said, “This case demonstrates the common progression from collecting and trading child pornography to actual production of child pornography, creating a whole new set of child victims. The network of dedicated law enforcement officers across the country that search for and identify child pornographers are invaluable to making our children safer.

This case is being brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. The Project Safe Childhood (PSC) Initiative has five major components:

1. Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue child victims
2. Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives
3. Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases
4. Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents
5. Community awareness and educational programs

To report these crimes, visit www.cybertipline.com or call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s hotline at 1-800-843-5678.

This investigation was conducted by the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Spokane Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement of Buffalo, New York. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Victim Identification Program also provided assistance. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

11-CR-014-WFN