West Palm Beach Man Sentenced To Eight Years on Internet Child Pornography Charges

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced that on April 18, 2008, defendant Brad Renner, 37, of West Palm Beach, was sentenced by U. S. District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley to 96 months in prison, to be followed by supervised release for life on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography over the internet, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., §§ 2252(a)(4)(B) and (2252(a)(1), respectively.

According to court filings and statements made in open court, the investigation began on June 12, 2007, when an undercover St. Lucie County Sheriff’s detective met Renner in an internet chat room. On that day, Renner sent the undercover detective, who was posing as the father of two children, ages 11 and 12, an electronic mail with a video clip. The video clip showed a male teenager who appeared to be under the age of 18 engaging in oral sex with another male who appeared to be under the age of 12.

According to court statements, a court-authorized search of Renner’s home computer led to the discovery and seizure of thousands of pornographic images, including two still images and 31 videos of child pornography. Renner was subsequently interviewed and admitted that he was the only person who had the password for the America Online account he used to send the child pornography to the undercover detective. He also admitted to receiving and transmitting images and videos of children engaged in sexual acts. A forensic examination of Renner’s computer confirmed that Renner had sent 15 videos of child pornography as attachments to outgoing emails.

The U. S. Attorney commended the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, the West Palm Beach Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Jorgensen in the West Palm Beach U. S. Attorney’s Office.

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