SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Missouri man who was the topic of an undercover investigation in the UK has been sentenced in federal courtroom on youngster sexual exploitation prices, following a joint Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) and legislation enforcement companion investigation.
Kody Ryan Kelso, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Decide Stephen R. Bough to 19 years and 7 months in federal jail with out parole. The courtroom additionally sentenced Kelso to spend 15 years on supervised launch following incarceration.
On July 6, Kelso pleaded responsible to at least one depend of the sexual exploitation of a kid to provide youngster pornography and one depend of utilizing the web and a cellular phone to coerce and entice a baby beneath the age of 14 to have interaction in illicit sexual exercise.
Each the offenses to which Kelso pleaded responsible are associated to an undercover legislation enforcement operation in the UK. Kelso used MyLOL, a teen relationship website with chat options, to contact an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old lady, however who in actuality was an undercover legislation enforcement officer. Kelso requested the minor to have sexual activity with him and repeatedly requested sexually specific photos throughout on-line chats from Jan. 7 to Feb. 2, 2021. Kelso additionally supplied his e mail tackle and requested the minor to make use of Google Hangouts to ship sexually specific pictures outdoors the MyLOL platform.
Along with the knowledge from Europol, investigators obtained two cybertips from the Nationwide Heart for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters concerning Kelso’s on-line exercise and posting a baby pornography video on-line.
On June 16, 2021, Springfield police arrested Kelso after executing a search warrant at his house and seizing 19 digital gadgets. Investigators discovered 26 photos and 39 video information of kid pornography on Kelso’s computer systems. In keeping with courtroom paperwork, Kelso had a number of conversations with different customers who had clearly recognized themselves as minors; he sought to have them produce sexually specific photos and entice them into partaking in sexual conduct. The data from MyLOL reveal that Kelso had contacted 560 further MyLOL customers, all of whom had been listed as being between the ages of 13 and 17 years outdated. He began every dialog by asking if the kid had an “age restrict” and would introduce sexual subjects.
Kelso’s habits was not restricted to MyLOL. On his gadgets, legislation enforcement found roughly 7,900 completely different chat threads with completely different customers, over a number of social media purposes, together with Discord, Fb Messenger, Google Hangouts, Instagram, Kik, Skype and Textual content Now. Kelso generally despatched youngster pornography and pornographic photos of himself to those youngsters and requested nude photos.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Legal professional Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by HSI, the Springfield, Missouri Police Division, and the FBI.
Undertaking Secure Childhood
This case was introduced as a part of Undertaking Secure Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in Could 2006 by the Division of Justice to fight the rising epidemic of kid sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by america attorneys’ places of work and the Legal Division’s Little one Exploitation and Obscenity Part, Undertaking Secure Childhood marshals federal, state and native sources to find, apprehend and prosecute people who sexually exploit youngsters, and to establish and rescue victims. For extra details about Undertaking Secure Childhood, please go to www.usdoj.gov/psc. For extra details about web security schooling, please go to www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on on the “Assets” tab.
Homeland Safety Investigations
HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety, answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these felony organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by which worldwide commerce, journey and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 workers consists of greater than 6,800 particular brokers assigned to 225 cities all through america and 93 abroad places in 56 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’ largest investigative legislation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. legislation enforcement.
Study extra about HSI’s mission to fight youngster exploitation in your neighborhood on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.