DENVER - Clifford Eric Perian, age 53, of Denver, Colorado, was arrested last week based on a Criminal Complaint charging one count of receipt of child pornography, the United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced. Late last week U.S. Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland determined Perian was a danger to the community, and therefore ordered him held without bond pending a resolution of his criminal case. The following facts are alleged in an affidavit filed in support of a Criminal Complaint - the facts of which will have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the government. Further, the facts contained in the Complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Anyone charged with a felony by Criminal Complaint has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.
Based on a law enforcement tip, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began an investigation into Clifford Eric Perian, and determined that he had on multiple occasions purchased several child pornography films.
With the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated numerous CyberTipLine reports relating to emails and online postings by an individual using three different email addresses going back as far as Nov. 11, 2007. The NCMEC and the USPIS were able to establish that evidence existed indicating that all three accounts were used by Clifford Perian. In the postings, Perian was soliciting parents of minor boys or looking for minor volunteers to be subjected to various acts of sexual torture and/or abuse.
On May 23, 2013, Postal Inspectors executed a search warrant at the residence of Perian in Denver. Inspectors found the bondage and sexual paraphernalia Perian boasted about online. They also found DVD’s containing child pornography or child erotica. Computers were also seized. Following the execution of the search warrant, Postal Inspectors contacted Perian. Investigators then determined that Perian ordered videos online, and then received them in the U.S. Mail. It was also determined that Perian received images of young males under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity with male adults through internet chat rooms and via email. There were also allegations that Perian sexually touched and was sexually touched by at least three boys ages 16 to 17 in approximately 2004 through 2006. Law enforcement also determined that Perian had been to local water parks taking non-explicit pictures of young boys he did not know under the age of 18.
“While most child pornography is now distributed and received via the internet, there are still companies that mail these horrible images exploiting children through the U.S. Mail," said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.
“The arrest of this defendant is critical because Postal Inspectors and Assistant U.S. Attorneys were able to identify someone who was using the U.S. Mail to sexually exploit children. The defendant in this case received the images in the mail, which is a crime."
“Protecting children from these egregious crimes is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service," said Craig Goldberg, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Denver. “We continue to aggressively investigate, apprehend and assist in the prosecution of individuals who seek to exploit children via the U.S. Mail."
Perian faces not less than 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine, as well as possible restitution and forfeiture.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Perian is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Spencer.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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, PSC 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 PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ For more information about Internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources." #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
