by Jim Kouri, CPP
The feds nailed a Beverly Hills production company executive and charged him with receiving and distributing numerous images of child pornography over the Internet as part of a massive investigation that originated in Fresno.
Anthony Logan, 62, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Fresno County Sheriff’s Department detectives at an apartment in Van Nuys. Agents searched a laptop and desktop computer found at the apartment and conducted a preliminary forensic investigation that yielded hundreds of images of child pornography.
Logan, a partner with CineVision Entertainment, directs “Fine Art Treasures,†a live art auction show that airs on DirecTV and Dish Network. According to the company’s website, the program has been seen by more than 40 million viewers.
Logan is one of five original targets in an investigation into a child pornography distribution scheme that has turned up leads on more than 120 individuals. Court papers document an extensive ICE investigation that began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and subsequently involved the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. Analysis of Logan’s e-mail account uncovered a large volume of stored images and movie files of child pornography. The images included prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct and children as young as a few months old being sexually abused by adults.
“Sexual predators – particularly those who prey on infants and children – will not go unpunished for their despicable crimes,†said Scott Brown, resident agent-in-charge for ICE investigations in Fresno where Logan’s case will be prosecuted. “We will continue to work closely with our enforcement partners to stop this heinous, criminal activity.â€ÂÂ
The investigation into Logan is part of ICE’s Operation Predator, an initiative aimed at those who prey on and exploit children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign national predators whose crimes make them deportable. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 5,700 individuals, including nearly 1,500 in California.
In an unrelated case, a 20-year-old predator convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl was arrested in New Hampshire by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.
Leton Adumene, a citizen of Nigeria pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2005 to sexual assault in a Hillsborough County superior court. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail to be served concurrently with another sentence resulting from a different conviction. A jury convicted Adumene of felonious sexual assault. This assault involved a different minor female. Adumene is appealing that conviction. ICE arrested Adumene upon completion of his jail sentence and initiated removal proceedings against him based upon his criminal convictions. He is currently in ICE custody at the Rockingham County Jail in New Hampshire.
Sources: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Department of Homeland Security, National Association of Chiefs of Police, US Department of Justice
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores.
