Posted on 06/15/2005 5:40:39 AM PDT by Calpernia
BISMARCK, N.D. — A Dickinson man was sentenced to 50 years in prison today for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography, following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.
Todd C. Zastoupil, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Daniel L. Hovland to 50 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors, to run concurrently with a 20-year sentence for possessing material involving sexually exploiting minors. Both sentences are the statutory maximum length allowed by law.
A videotape of Zastoupil sexually abusing two children under the age of 10 was discovered in his residence in September 2004. Law enforcement officers were subsequently given permission to search the home, where they found additional videotapes and photographs containing child pornography.
“These are serious prison sentences, and they reflect the seriousness of the crimes,” said Resident Agent-in-Charge Michael Mach of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Grand Forks. “We can all rest a little easier knowing this man won’t be able to hurt children any more.”
Zastoupil was a registered sex offender even before he was arrested for the current crimes, the result of a previous Stark County conviction for an offense involving a minor.
ICE agents and the Dickinson Police Department officers investigated the case with assistance from the Stark County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clare Hochhalter and Lynn Jordheim prosecuted the case.
Zastoupil’s arrest is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 5,800 individuals, including 18 in North Dakota.
ICE encourages the reporting of suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. Investigators staff this hotline around the clock.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http:/www.cybertipline.com.
ping
WOW...ICE really arrested Someone!
Ok, I'll bite. What does this have to do with the ICE and the federal government?
Apparently more than 5800.
>>>Ok, I'll bite. What does this have to do with the ICE and the federal government?
Try rewording that. I've no idea what you just asked.
How is it that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is arresting people for child sexual abuse? I didn't see anything about this case concerning international trafficking or illegal aliens. Aren't they supposed to be arresting illegals or something?
See the link in post 1. ICE runs Operation Predator.
So, having taken care of the problem of illegal aliens and international terrorists, they're now running down child predators. I see.
That was my question too.
"Aren't they supposed to be arresting illegals or something?"
That might disrupt the landscapers and hotel maids, so we can't have that you know.
Sex predators are intertwined with Human Trafficking.
To date:
* More than 85% of arrests are of foreign national sex offenders.
* Approximately 40% of these are lawful permanent residents.
* Approximately 40% of these are illegal aliens.
* Nationwide, approximately 42% of those foreign nationals arrested have been deported to date.
* Represent predators from more than 100 nations.
North Dakota? What's the matter, this guy couldn't afford to emigrate to California like all of his fellow sexual predators? ;)
maybe we should use Children&Youth Services and all the state and Federal child welfare agencies to crack down on immigration. they might do a better job!
They have arrested almost 6,000 sex predators to date. Human Trafficking and the sex offenders crosses state lines and international borders.
and Michael Jackson moonwalks...
That North Dakota is a real pest hole! :^)
Do you have a source where I can find these statistics? Thanks.
There was a recent raid on Chinese restaurants in Michigan that I believe was carried out by the state police. Scores of illegal workers were discovered. They were having trouble finding translators for the documents seized, so I don't think the feds were involved. I remember thinking at the time that they could raid 100 restaurants around Monterey, CA alone, and only be scratching the surface.
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw116975_20050609.htm
It just seems we're butting out cigarettes while the whole forest is burning down around us.
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