TYLER, Texas - A 35-year-old Medford, Oregon woman has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Crystal Beam pleaded guilty on Nov. 14, 2016, to conspiracy to sexually exploit children and was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark. Beam will be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from federal prison.
According to information presented in court, between November 2014 and January 2015, Beam conspired and agreed with Brian Casper, 27, of Tyler, Texas to use minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions and transmitting live visual depictions of such conduct.
Casper also conspired and agreed with Taylor Keeth, 22, of Indianola, Iowa, and Lacy Brooks, 31, of Searcy, Arkansas, to use minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions and transmitting live visual depictions of such conduct.
Casper pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2016, to conspiracy to sexually exploit children. Keeth pleaded guilty on Dec. 7, 2016, to conspiracy to sexually exploit children. Brooks pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2017 in the Eastern District of Arkansas, to production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.
“He who harms the child, shall have a millstone tied upon his neck and he shall be cast into the deepest part of the sea," said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Although we cannot cast anyone into the sea, it is, and shall remain the highest priority that those who harm a child shall be swiftly brought to justice and punishment shall be sought."
On Apr. 10, 2017, Casper and Keeth were sentenced by Judge Clark. Casper was sentenced to 336 months in federal prison, and Keeth was sentenced to 282 months in federal prison. Brooks is awaiting sentencing.
This case was prosecuted 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 Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's 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.
“These cases are heart wrenching for all involved, the child advocates, the families, the investigators, the prosecutors and the courts," said Acting U.S. Attorney Featherston. “I applaud their resilience and fortitude in bringing these predators to justice."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tyler Police Department, Port of Galveston Police Department, White County (Arkansas) Sheriff's Office, Indianola (Iowa) Police Department, and the Medford (Oregon) Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld, in cooperation with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin O'Leary and Kristin Bryant of the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
