DAVENPORT, Iowa — A choose sentenced a Cedar Rapids man on Feb. 28 to 108 months in jail for receipt of kid exploitation materials following a Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) probe. He pays $21,000 in restitution and serve 5 years of supervised launch following his jail time period.
In response to courtroom paperwork, the HSI investigation of Justin Richard Mezera, 34, started after somebody filed a tip on-line saying the person used his Kik account to have little one pornography associated discussions. Legislation enforcement officers searched Mezera’s identified residences in Cedar Rapids and Iowa Metropolis and situated a number of units containing little one sexual abuse materials, together with these depicting masochistic conduct and infants or toddlers. Mezera admitted to possessing, accessing and receiving little one pornography.
HSI Kansas Metropolis appearing Particular Agent in Cost Taekuk Cho and U.S. Lawyer Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
HSI Kansas Metropolis investigated the case.
This case was introduced as a part of Venture Protected Childhood. In 2006, the Division of Justice created Venture Protected Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to guard kids from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplaces and the Division of Justice’s Little one Exploitation and Obscenity Part, Venture Protected Childhood marshals federal, state, and native sources to find, apprehend, and prosecute people who exploit kids, in addition to establish and rescue victims. For extra details about Venture Protected Childhood, please go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI)
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these prison organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by way of which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 workers consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through america, and 93 abroad places in 56 international locations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.
Study extra about HSI’s mission to fight little one exploitation in your neighborhood on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.