One Defendant Sentenced and Three Plead Guilty in Child Exploitation Cases

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced the sentencing of one defendant and guilty pleas of three additional defendants in four separate child exploitation cases this week in federal court in San Diego.

In the first case, Juan Carlos Chimal-Moran was sentenced by United States District Court Roger T. Benitez to serve 210 months in custody and 20 years of supervised release following his release from prison. According to court records, Chimal-Moran pled guilty on January 13, 2009 to sexual exploitation of a child, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251. In his guilty plea, Chimal-Moran admitted that between June 1, 2008 and July 21, 2008, he took sexually explicit photographs of his five-year-old daughter in his home in Tijuana, Mexico and transported the undeveloped roll of film to a store in San Diego to be developed. Chimal-Moran, a Mexican citizen, stipulated to deportation upon completion of his sentence. This case stems from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the San Diego Police Department.

In the second case, Michael John Nicodemus tendered his guilty plea on April 28, 2009, before
Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr., to enticement of a minor in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). According to court records, Nicodemus admitted to chatting with a fourteen-year-old girl in New York via a computer and cell phone, asking her to take sexually explicit photos of herself, sending pictures of his exposed genitals, and to discussing performing sexual acts. The plea is subject to final acceptance at the time of sentencing by United States District Court Judge Larry A. Burns on July 6, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. This case stems from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In the third case, Wayne 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(1)(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. The plea is subject to final acceptance at the time of sentencing by United States District Court Judge William Q. Hayes on July 27, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. This case stems from a nationwide investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In the fourth case, Dustin Kram tendered his guilty plea before Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo on April 30, 2009, to distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(1). In his plea, Kram admitted to sending an email from his “hotmail” account on June 5, 2007, with a video clip attached depicting two young boys engaged in graphic sexual activity. The plea is subject of final acceptance at the time of sentencing by United States District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino. This case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The investigations were assisted by the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose members include the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 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), ICE’s Operation Predator and the FBI's Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI). All are nationwide initiatives designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. For more information about PSC, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov, and for additional information on Operation Predator, please visit www.ice.gov or www.cybertipline.com and for additional information on IINI, please visit www.fbi.gov

DEFENDANTS
Case No. 08cr3264BEN - Juan Carlos Chimal-Moran
Case No. 09cr-1337LAB - Michael John Nicodemus
Case No. 09cr1461WQH - Wayne Croteau
Case No. 09cr1459JLS - Dustin Kram

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251 (Sexual Exploitation of a Child)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b) (Enticement of a Minor)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) (Possession of Child Pornography)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(1) (Distribution of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct)

AGENCIES
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
East Greenbush New York Police Department
San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force