Anchorage Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Ronald Teekell, 53, of Anchorage, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 97 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for the distribution of child pornography.   

According to court documents, Teekell was first brought to law enforcement’s attention in 2009 when law enforcement received a report that child pornography was being distributed from the open wireless at Jewel Lake Bowl.  Teekell became the subject of a federal investigation when law enforcement received child pornography from Teekell’s computer in 2014, and again in 2016.  The investigation revealed that Teekell had previously used computers located at both Jewel Lake Bowl and the adjacent Storite Storage companies to receive, access, and distribute images of child sexual exploitation as early as 2009.

Specifically, in November 2014, an FBI Special Agent working in an undercover capacity received hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual exploitation from an IP address assigned to Jewel Lake Bowl.  Additionally, in May 2016, an APD Detective observed a suspect device distributing hundreds of images and videos of child sexual exploitation by means of an online file-sharing network.  The IP address in this instance was assigned to Teekell’s home address, rather than the business accounts at either Jewel Lake Bowl or Storite Storage.  Both companies are partially owned and operated by Teekell.  

In August 2016, APD and FBI executed search warrants at Teekell’s residence, workplace, and storage unit.  A subsequent analysis of Teekell’s devices revealed corroborating evidence of his distribution of images of child sexual exploitation between 2009 and 2016. 

Pursuant to a plea agreement in this case, Teekell admitted to knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing more than 500 images and videos depicting child sexual exploitation during the relevant periods.  He also agreed to forfeit his ownership in Jewel Lake Bowl and associated entities.   

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Burgess noted that offenses related to child pornography are extremely serious and that the abuse depicted “haunts the victims” for their entire lives.  Judge Burgess stated that there was “no doubt” in his mind that Mr. Teekell’s predilection for child pornography had been a long running addiction.

The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.