U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert | U.S. Department of Justice
Randy Anger, a 57-year-old resident of Carnelian Bay, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the distribution and receipt of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents reveal that in May 2021, Anger engaged in the distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material through the Kik Messenger app while communicating with Brent Hooton. Hooton faced separate charges in the Eastern District of California for producing and distributing child pornography and received a sentence of 27 years in prison. In November 2021, Anger also acquired several images of child sexual abuse material via the Wickr app.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from Homeland Security Investigations and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is handling the prosecution.
Anger's sentencing is scheduled for March 31, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. For both counts related to distribution and receipt, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum statutory penalty reaching up to 20 years per count. The final sentence will be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and guidelines which evaluate various elements.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices alongside the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood unites federal, state, and local efforts to find and prosecute individuals who exploit children sexually while also focusing on victim rescue operations. Further details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab for internet-safety education information.
