United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, "This defendant spent years sexually abusing a very young girl in vile ways, filming the horrific abuse and then sending it out over the Internet for others with such repulsive interests to watch. The physical and emotional damage he has caused that child is incalculable. The series of child pornography that he created and spread throughout the world has become one of the most in-demand series among hard-core consumers of images of children being sexually exploited. Today's guilty plea is a tribute to the dedication and hard work of countless investigators from many agencies and many countries. If it weren't for their long hours and innovative investigative techniques, this defendant might still be abusing his defenseless victim and recording and distributing images of the abuse."
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, "The guilty plea today of Mr. Huskey helps bring this tragic and twisted crime closer to a close. The rehabilation and recovery of Mr. Huskey's juvenile victim is, however, just beginning. The Atlanta Office FBI would like to express its gratitude to the many and varied law enforcement agencies who worked so hard toward this successful outcome."
In Washington D.C., Shawn Henry, FBI Assistant Director, Cyber Division, said, "Child pornography has proliferated with the growth of the internet. The FBI is continuing to develop our national and international task forces that address the sexual exploitation of children. We are educating law enforcement around the world on the communication methods used by child predators and collaborating on investigations to expeditiously identify these abusers. This case represents but one example of how the coordinated efforts of the global law enforcement community directly led to the rescue of a young victim and the apprehension of her abuser."
According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In June 2006, Australian authorities informed the FBI's Innocent Images Unit about an international investigation into the activities of a group of child pornography traders. These traders used sophisticated security measures to protect their trading of child pornography from the authorities. Agents with the FBI began investigating this group and recovered particularly graphic and disturbing photos and videos of a young girl who appeared to be approximately between the age 6 to 9 being traded among the group.
Over the last two years, the images of this child being violently sexually assaulted grew gradually worse. The Innocent Images Unit of the FBI, in cooperation with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Richmond Field Office of the FBI, the Maine State Police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Atlanta Field Office of the FBI, worked to identify the child, who had been named "Tara" in captions on the abusive photos and videos. Identifying the child or perpetrator was difficult because the face of the perpetrator was often blurred using computer graphics. The perpetrator also sometimes wore a mask, and had the child wear a mask at times. Using items shown in the background of some of the photos and videos, law enforcement was able to identify HUSKEY as the perpetrator of "Tara's" abuse.
After HUSKEY's arrest in June 2008, he admitted he had abused "Tara" and had sent the images of the abuse out over the Internet. The child, now age 9, was also interviewed and confirmed that HUSKEY had sexually assaulted her for years, and had filmed the assaults. The child also confirmed HUSKEY had violently sexually assaulted her on the very day of his arrest. A full forensic review of HUSKEY's computer revealed many hundreds of images of child pornography, including many graphic photos and videos of the young girl he had been abusing for years. During the search of HUSKEY's house, agents found many of the items that were depicted in the images being traded around the world, and they found the camera HUSKEY used to record the child's abuse.
The child has been referred for a wide variety of theraputic services provided to victims of child sexual abuse.
HUSKEY was indicted in July 2008 for producing, distributing, and receiving child pornography. He pleaded guilty today to all three counts without a plea agreement. He could receive a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr. in Rome.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and its Innocent Images Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Francey Hakes and Corey Steinberg are prosecuting the case.
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