Oregon Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

BOISE – Hein Fourie, 26, of Adrian, Oregon, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.

According to court records, an investigation began when a citizen reported to law enforcement that Fourie had child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cellphone.  The citizen provided law enforcement with two cellphones belonging to Fourie.  Law enforcement examined the cellphones pursuant to a search warrant and located over 300 files of CSAM on each cellphone.  During an interview, Fourie admitted to receiving CSAM on cellphones that he had possessed while temporarily residing in Idaho.

U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Fourie to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution to victims in the images he possessed.  Fourie will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.

“We are grateful to the concerned citizen who alerted law enforcement to this defendant’s possession of CSAM,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.  “And we are grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked together to help us bring this case.  We continue to do everything in our power to bring to justice those who victimize children.”

“Reporting child predators, anywhere they may be found, gives our agents an advantage in the fight against CSAM," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. "Quite simply, if you see something, say something. Every report matters, and with community involvement our law enforcement partnerships can protect those who need it the most.”

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Wilder Police Department, and the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the charges.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case.

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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.justice.gov/psc.

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