Souderton Man Sentenced to 15 years for Child Pornography

PHILADELPHIA- Ian Ranberg, 50, of Souderton, PA, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography.   On August 21, 2013, Homeland Security Investigations agents executed search warrants on Ranberg’s email account and at his home in Souderton, PA and recovered hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child pornography on various electronic devices.   On September 23, 2014, Ranberg pleaded guilty to distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography.   In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Gene E.K. Pratter ordered 10 years of supervised release, restitution of $25,000, and a $400 special assessment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Natali.