8 Inland Empire Child Pornography Suspects Arrested by ICE Agents

Ontario man allegedly possessed more than 500,000 explicit images

 RIVERSIDE, California –  An Ontario pipefitter, who allegedly amassed one of the largest collections of child pornography ever found, is among eight Inland Empire men arrested this morning by federal agents as part of a coordinated enforcement effort targeting the possession and trafficking of child pornography.

Michael Peterson, 58, was taken into custody at his residence this morning by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Peterson is charged in a three-count criminal complaint with possessing, receiving and distributing child pornography. In July, ICE HSI agents executed a search warrant at Peterson’s home and seized several computer hard drives and a laptop computer. A forensic analysis of those devices revealed more than 500,000 images and 7,500 videos of suspected child pornography. Peterson initially came under suspicion based on a lead obtained during an undercover investigation by Delaware-based HSI agents targeting a peer-to-peer file sharing network. 

“Child exploitation crimes victimize the most vulnerable members of our society,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “The victimization of children for sexual purposes is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, and that is why prosecuting child predators is one of the top priorities of the Justice Department.”

Debra Parker, the assistant special agent in charge for ICE HSI in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, stated: “Every time these illegal images are produced, transmitted or viewed, a child is victimized. We owe it to the young victims in these cases to pursue the offenders aggressively, since many of the children who are sexually exploited by those who produce child pornography will bear the emotional scars for rest of their lives.”

Another man arrested this morning was David Christopher Jelaca, a 37-year-old registered nurse from La Quinta, who is charged in a criminal complaint with distribution of child pornography, attempted distribution of child pornography to a minor, possession of child pornography and enticement of a minor for illegal sexual purposes. Agents from the Imperial Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes HSI, began investigating Jelaca after he posted an advertisement on Craigslist soliciting a “Dirty Daddy who likes to share his daughter’s dirty panties.” In email exchanges with undercover Task Force agents, Jaleca acknowledged having had sexual contact with girls as young as 15 and fantasizing about sexual relations with girls as young as 12. Subsequently, agents searched Jelaca’s home, seizing computers and related media that were found to contain more than 26,000 still images and 55 movie files of suspected child pornography.

The six other defendants arrested this morning are:

Alexander Scott Branson, 25, of Upland, who was indicted for receiving and possessing child pornography;

Ronald Sousa, 67, of Cathedral City, who was indicted for possessing and distributing child pornography;

Bolivar Arnoldo Guillen, 59, of Rancho Cucamonga, who is charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography;

Ronald R. Jaenson, 66, of Colton, who is charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography;

John Anthony Serrano, 37, of Barstow, who is charged in a criminal complaint with receiving, possessing, and distributing child pornography;

Anthony Starkweather, 20, of Mentone, who is charged in a criminal complaint with receiving, possessing, and distributing child pornography; and

The eight defendants arrested this morning are scheduled to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.

A ninth man was arrested this week as part of the federal child exploitation crackdown. Enrique Garcia, 26, of Hemet, was arrested by FBI agents on Wednesday after being indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing and distributing child pornography. During an initial appearance in United States District Court in Riverside yesterday, Garcia was freed on bond and ordered to appear for an arraignment in federal court in Los Angeles on December 5.

Indictments and criminal complaints contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The charges of distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

The cases are part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, which brings together federal, state and local law enforcement authorities to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children using the Internet. For additional information on the PSC initiative, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The investigations conducted by ICE are part the agency’s Operation Predator, a nationwide initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who sexually exploit children. As part of Operation Predator, ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.