LAWFUEL – The Net’s Leading Law News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jesus Torres, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), announced the arrest of John T. Beyers of West Palm Beach. Beyers was arrested on January 10, 2007, and charged by Indictment with receipt of child pornography that had been distributed via the internet and possession of child pornography.
Beyers was identified via a nationwide ICE investigation into a subscription-only website that sold images of child pornography. Additionally, approximately 800 subscribers worldwide were identified. Beyers was interviewed and confessed to downloading and possessing images of child pornography. Subsequently, the Computer Crimes Unit of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office conducted a forensic examination of Beyers’ computer equipment and discovered numerous images of child pornography, including several that were identified on the targeted subscription-only website.
Beyers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum of twenty years on the charge of receipt of child pornography and a maximum term of ten years’ imprisonment on the charge of possession of child pornography.
Beyers made his initial appearance in West Palm Beach before U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Hopkins on January 9, 2007, at which time he was arraigned on the Indictment. The United States asked that Beyers be detained pending trial. A hearing on the request for pretrial detention is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2006, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linnea R. Johnson. The matter has not yet been set for trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth L. Ryskamp.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and thanked the Computer Crimes Unit of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance on this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie Villafana.
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 http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/ .
