BOISE - Travis L. Spradlin, 38, of Boise was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to 180 months in prison followed by 8 years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to the plea agreement, in September 2015, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information that an individual using a Yahoo account from a residence in Boise had sent and received images of child pornography via e-mail, and had accessed a Russian photo-sharing website to obtain child pornography. HSI agents served a search warrant at the residence, where Spradlin lived. They seized a cell phone, a computer, and an external hard drive, all belonging to Spradlin.
A certified forensic examiner with HSI examined the electronic devices, and discovered over 6,000 images and 200 videos containing child pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) subsequently identified 1,759 images and 70 videos as containing identifiable victims of sexual abuse, including victims from at least 150 known series of child pornography. The images included prepubescent minors and depictions of sadistic and masochistic conduct.
The examination of Spradlin’s cell phone also revealed evidence that he had communicated with at least two minor females from other states, and requested sexually explicit images from them. Agents discovered Spradlin received 274 images and 29 videos from one of the minors that depicted the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Spradlin to forfeit the computer and electronic storage devices used in the commission of the charged offense, and to pay restitution to victims depicted in the images he possessed. Judge Winmill ordered the restitution amount to be determined at later date. As a result of his conviction, Spradlin will be required to register as a sex offender.
“Predators who view pornographic images of children fuel the disturbing actions of like-minded criminals who create the illegal content. Both rob the innocence of their victims and leave permanent scars that can never be entirely healed," said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle. “This sentence is a testament to the dedication of the HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring these pedophiles out of the shadows to ensure they receive the judgment they deserve."
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The 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."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
