San Rafael Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

San Francisco, CA - Robert Haeuser, a 33-year-old resident of San Rafael, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to soliciting and receiving child pornography from a young victim he groomed over the internet. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The Honorable Susan Illston, United States Senior District Judge, handed down the sentence.

Haeuser's guilty plea was entered on December 2, 2022. The investigation revealed that in 2015, he initiated communication with an 11-year-old victim through the chat feature of a mobile game called "Dynasty Wars." While Haeuser resided in Marin County, the victim lived with her parents in Houston. By November 2015, Haeuser was aware that the victim had not yet reached high school, and by October 2016, he acknowledged during an exchange that he would be in jail if their conversations were exposed to the world. Their communication eventually moved to email, where Haeuser repeatedly solicited sexually explicit images and videos from the victim, instructing her to engage in explicit conduct. Regrettably, the victim complied with Haeuser's demands, resulting in the exchange of a staggering number of emails and text messages between July 2015 and October 2017. In total, the victim sent Haeuser at least 29 images and 4 videos depicting herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

On May 3, 2022, Haeuser was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). He subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Illston ordered Haeuser to serve ten years of supervised release, which will commence after his prison term. The date for Haeuser to begin his prison term has been set for August 25, 2023.

The prosecution of this case was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Yeh and Leif Dautch, with assistance from Mark DiCenzo. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.

Child exploitation and the solicitation of child pornography are serious crimes that inflict lasting harm on victims. The U.S. Attorney's Office and law enforcement agencies remain committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who engage in such heinous acts, ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities.

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New York Man Sentenced in Missoula to More Than 16 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime

David Woods, 38, of Corfu, New York, was sentenced today to 15 years of incarceration, for conspiracy to advertise child pornography.  Woods was also required to 15 years of supervised release.  Chief U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen sentenced Woods following a May 22, 2015, hearing, in which Woods pleaded guilty to the offense.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson, the government stated that if the case had proceeded to trial, the government would have proven that an invitation-only online bulletin board, referred to as Dark Moon, was created in 2011.  It allowed members to advertise and exchange images of child pornography.  In early 2012, Woods became an active member of the bulletin board and continued to be an active member in a more advanced role until April 2013.  Woods made posts in the advanced member section of the board, which included URL links and preview images of child pornography.  Woods also requested child pornography from other members of the Dark Moon and responded to and commented on child pornography posts made by other members.  Law enforcement analysis of Woods’ digital and other devices revealed that he used hard drives, a computer, Woods’ digital devices and other evidence, which revealed that he used multiple hard drives and a computer, in commission of the crime.  Woods was ordered to forfeit those items at the sentencing.

This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.  Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation.  It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.  The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.  Investigative agencies in the case include the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted this case along with Maureen Cain, of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.  Because there is no parole in the federal system, Woods will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is released from prison.

East Lansing Man Receives 20-Year Sentence for Trading Child Pornography

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Patrick Wiseman (33) of East Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced in federal court to a sentence of 20 years’ incarceration for trading in child pornography, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announced today. Wiseman was also sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release. In sentencing Wiseman, Judge Janet Neff emphasized the need to protect the community.

Wiseman has a prior sex offense conviction in Florida for possession of child pornography in 2003 and served 30 months in prison. Wiseman came to the attention of law enforcement in 2011 when he was discovered sharing child pornography through the Internet. In July 2011, the FBI executed a search warrant on Wiseman’s home and seized his computer. While that investigation was pending, Wiseman purchased another computer and began sharing even more child pornography through the Internet. The FBI, along with Homeland Security Investigations-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE), executed another search warrant on Wiseman’s home in March 2012. Wiseman’s computer was seized, and he was arrested and held in custody.

At Wiseman’s sentencing, Judge Neff expressed dismay and disgust at Wiseman’s collection of violent and brutal images of children being sexually assaulted. The investigation disclosed Wiseman’s chat communications, where he boasted that he sexually assaulted and beat children. Wiseman claimed that the chat communications were merely fantasies; however, Judge Neff found that his statements, even if fantasies, were true expressions of his desire to brutalize and sexually assault children and that he posed an extremely high risk to children.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the special agents of the FBI and HSI-ICE. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Y. Mekaru.

North Versailles Man Admits Possessing Thousands of Pornographic Images of Children

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Allegheny County pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Harold J. Grant, III, 20, of 411 Halket Street, North Versailles, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on February 2, 2011, Grant possessed thousands of visual depictions, namely, videos and still images in computer graphics files, that were produced with the use of minors, many of whom were infants and very young children, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for January 23, 2012, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Grant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography

James L. Santelle, United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Philip Wentzel (age 41), formerly of West Allis, Wisconsin, and formerly a sergeant with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, pleaded guilty in federal court to six counts of production of child pornography.

According to court documents, from 2009 through approximately April 2011, Wentzel (age 41), knowingly produced child pornography. Each of the six counts involved a different minor female victim. According to court records, Wentzel also used a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program to share images and videos of child pornography which he and others had produced.

The court set Wentzel’s sentencing for December 21, 2012. At that time, Wentzel faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment as to each count. Wentzel also faces up to a $250,000 fine per count and a minimum of five years and up to life time of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to United States Attorney L. Santelle, “Allegations of criminal activity by those who are sworn to enforce the law are especially troubling as such activities are an affront to the public, the justice system, and the many hard-working and honest men and women who serve in law enforcement.”

This case is the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Milwaukee Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Milwaukee Police Department, High Technology Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope L. Coblentz is prosecuting 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.