Moses Lake Collector of Child Pornography Receives Four-Year Prison Term

SPOKANE, WA—Today, James A. McDevitt, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Keith Marshel Ivers, age 50, of Moses Lake, Washington, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing child pornography on his computer.

In November 2007, the Federal Bureau of Investigation located in New York discovered an Internet location sharing child pornography. Further investigation showed the Internet location was originating from Keith Ivers home located in Moses Lake, Washington. In January 2008, a federal search warrant was executed at Keith Ivers’ home in Moses Lake, where over 2,000 images of child pornography were seized in computers and electronic storage devices. In addition to downloading child pornography from the Internet, the investigation showed that Keith Ivers had been sharing his files over the Internet using a file sharing program. Keith Ivers voluntarily surrendered in July 2009, and was released on electronic home confinement. He was ordered to self report to federal prison once one has been assigned for him. In March 2010, he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.

Keith Ivers was ordered to serve 48 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of court supervision after he is released from prison. As well, Keith Ivers will be required to register as a sex offender for his lifetime.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, 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:

• Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases and to identify and rescue child victims
• Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives
• Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases
• Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents
• 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.