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Press Release

Child Predator Sentenced To Ten Years

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan

 

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U. S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Sameer Paul Gadola, 23, of East Lansing, Michigan was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff also imposed special assessments of $15,300 and a period of supervised release of five years following his imprisonment.

          In 2016, Gadola engaged in conversations with minor boys over the internet using social media. He engaged in sexual conversations with the children and induced them to send him sexually explicit photographs. There was also evidence of Gadola sexually exploiting additional children beyond the counts of conviction, both online and in person. Gadola pled guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 72 months each on counts one and two to be served concurrently with each other, and 48 months on count three, to be served consecutively to counts one and two.

          In sentencing Gadola, Judge Neff called him a "sexual predator" who groomed children and then acted on his impulses with them online and in person. Judge Neff stressed the need to protect the public from further crimes by Gadola, whom she described as "a danger to the community."

          In its sentencing memorandum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office sought a significant sentence in light of the nature and magnitude of Gadola’s conduct. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office agrees with the Court’s assessment that Gadola engaged in very serious criminal conduct warranting significant time in prison," said U.S. Attorney Birge. "The predation of children, whether on the internet or elsewhere, is a very grave offense which deserves severe consequences to promote respect for the law, to deter other child sex offenders, and to protect the public."

          This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney's Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

          This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Sanford and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

END

Updated September 11, 2018

Topic
Project Safe Childhood