Hogsett Presents United States Attorney Awards To Local, Federal Law Enforcement Officers

FISHERS – Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, was in Hamilton County today to acknowledge the presentation of U.S. Attorney Awards to four federal and local law enforcement officers. Joined by United States Marshal Kerry Forestal, HSI-ICE Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Woolf, Carmel Police Chief Tim Green, and Fishers Police Chief George Kehl, Hogsett applauded the significant impact of these four individuals in a child exploitation prosecution involving an Indiana minor.

“The work of these individuals on this case is an example of law enforcement at its best,” Hogsett said. “This was a complicated case with many moving parts, but the selfless dedication and tireless work of our partners here in Hamilton helped stop the victimization of a young child and ensure the defendants were held fully accountable.”

The United States Attorney Award was established in 2003 to recognize outstanding law enforcement work in Hoosier communities as part of federal investigations and prosecutions. Just twenty total awards were awarded in 2013, and the Carmel and Fishers police departments were two of only six local law enforcement agencies to be recognized. Those honored today included:

• Detective John Pirics, Carmel Police Department
• Detective J.D. Floyd, Fishers Police Department
• Special Agent Mike Johnson, Department of Homeland Security
• Senior Inspector Tammy Hammons of the United States Marshals Service

In February 2013, these four individuals participated in a joint operation by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. That investigation involved the criminal conduct of Leslie Woods, an Indiana resident who had failed to register as a sex offender, and Brock Boston, a resident of Columbus, Indiana.

Woods and Boston together had met and formed a relationship with a minor boy in Ohio who they filmed while he engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Boston was also found to be producing child pornography involving a four year-old family member. The two men were subsequently found to possess large collections of child pornography that they had acquired from other sources.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle Helart, who prosecuted the case for the government, the extraordinary work of these four individuals was vital in convicting the two men. Boston was sentenced in May of this year to 28 years in federal prison, and Woods was sentenced to 26 ½ years in federal prison. Both were also ordered to serve lifetime supervised release when their prison terms are completed.