17 September – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jesus Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Michael S. Clemens, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Division, Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne, and St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, announced that defendant, Kelly Ray Jones, 40, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida was sentenced today by United States District Judge James I. Cohn to a term of 293 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to possess child pornography and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Judge Cohn also placed Jones on lifetime supervision upon the conclusion of his sentence. Finally, Judge Cohn also ordered the forfeiture of Jones’ interest in his residence located at 1950 NE 57th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
According to court documents, Jones utilized a laptop computer at the above residence to receive, possess and transmit voluminous amounts of child pornography, which included images depicting sadomasochistic and masochistic conduct directed at children, mostly under the age of 12 years. At the time of the offenses, Jones was on supervised release for similar conduct dating to 2001. In the 2001 case, Jones traveled from his home in Ft. Lauderdale to Port St. Lucie, Florida, to engage in sex with a child. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Cohn noted that the sentence was aimed to deter others and also to protect the public, and children in particular.
Jones’ former roommate, Kenneth Paul Wilk, is currently awaiting trial in federal court for the murder of Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputy Todd Fatta and the attempted murder of Sergeant Angelo Cedeno, stemming from a shooting when state and federal law enforcement agents attempted to serve a federal search warrant and arrest warrant at the Wilk-Jones residence on August 18, 2004.
Mr. Acosta stated “This sentence sends a strong message that we in the justice system will do all we can to help protect our children from those who would victimize them. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who engage in the receipt and transmission of child pornography.”
Mr. Acosta commended the long-term investigative efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), Broward County Sheriff’s Office, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the “LEACH” Task Force for their continued efforts in bringing child pornographers such as Jones to justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John S. Kastrenakes and Neil Karadbil in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
