Polson man sentenced for global child porn ring
POLSON – What ended in major global child pornography conviction a week ago began five years ago in Polson with the help of city police.
Paul Wencewicz, 48, of Polson, plead guilty to creating and maintaining the Kingdom of Future Dreams online child exploitation bulletin board advertising and exchanging images of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter.
Missoula Federal District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy sentenced Wencewicz, who accepted a plea deal, to 220 months in jail, roughly 18 years total, lifetime supervision and the confiscation of his computer and storage devices, Cotter said.
It was a, “...major victory in the fight against child exploitation,” he said.
Authorities said Wencewicz was the ring master of an international child pornography network which was targeted by investigators and prosecutors participating in Operation Kingdom Conqueror. At least a dozen others were convicted and as many as 40 worldwide are also under investigation.
Police officials could not disclose whether any of the victims were from Polson or Lake County.
“The web-based bulletin board started in 2009 allowed members to share their common interest in exchanging files online which contained child pornography and non-child pornography images depicting young girls,” according to Cotter’s press release. “As the conspiracy progressed, additional members contributed to the design and operations of the board. Between Nov. 6, 2009, (and) March 19, 2012, members of the conspiracy used the online bulletin board to share pictures and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During that same time the participants agreed to use the online bulletin board to publish or print notices or advertisements soliciting additional images of child pornography which they would then share and broadcast on the internet.”
In describing Tacoma resident and fellow child-pornography convict, Steve Humiston, the Seattle Post Intelligencer online newspaper reported that the Kingdom of Future Dreams was a, “small piece of a cruel, vast virtual world.”
“About 40 men shared hundreds of thousands of images showing children displayed and abused through the child pornography bulletin board. Running the board out of his home in a small Montana town, the Kingdom’s founder described those guys as his family,” the Seattle PI reported.
Steve Humiston, 57, was the most active participant on the board. He was a postal employee, Air Force veteran and father of two, the newspaper said.
FBI agents raided Wencewicz’s home March 14, 2012, and arrested Humiston about a year later.
Wencewicz told authorities he, “felt like his entire family was taken away when the bulletin board was shut down.”
Mary Rook, the FBI’s leading special agent said her work was, and still is, collaborative.
“I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section and each of the law enforcement agencies who worked on this case for their efforts in bringing justice to the victims,” Rook said. “These successes are only possible through the commitment of our law enforcement community to working together to protect the most vulnerable, and prosecute to the full extent those who prey upon our children.”
The lengthy and wide ranging investigation is an ongoing cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Montana Department of Criminal Investigations, the Helena and Polson Police Departments, the United States Department of Justice - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Homeland Security Investigations, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the States of Jersey Police Department, Isle of Jersey, near the United Kingdom.
Cotter said the convictions were a victory.
“Pedophiles who savage our children through pornography, coercion and exploitation are on notice that when they are caught—and they will be caught—the consequences are dire and law enforcement’s tolerance for these crimes non-existent,” Cotter said.
The internet exchange of child pornography creates a market for the victimization of children, he said.
“That market destroys lives and robs children of their innocence. It is a grotesque crime that must be dealt with in a manner that fully reflects the tragedy it causes its victims,” Cotter said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson and Maureen C. Cain with the U.S. Department of Justice, Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section, prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task (or the MT ICAC). The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
Other pedophiles convicted and sentenced for their participation in Wencewicz’ group are:
TONY BRONSON, a 53-year-old resident of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced on October 28, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Bronson was sentenced to 224 months in prison, 10 years supervised release and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Bronson must forfeit his computers and storage devices.
CHARLES CROSBY, a 43-year-old resident of Trenton, New Jersey, was sentenced on October 23, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Crosby was sentenced to 210 months in prison, lifetime supervised release and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Crosby must forfeit his computers and storage devices.
STEVE HUMISTON, a 57-year-old resident of Tacoma, Washington, was sentenced on October 23, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Humiston received 210 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, $29,859 restitution and a $5,000 fine. In addition, Humiston must forfeit his computers and storage devices.
JOHN JOHNSON, a 58-year-old resident of Locust Grove, Virginia, was sentenced on October 22, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Johnson received 180 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Johnson must forfeit his computer and storage device.
ROBERT KRISE, a 66-year-old resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was sentenced on October 22, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Krise received 180 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Krise must forfeit his computers and hard drives.
SCOTT LONG, a 53-year-old resident of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced on October 21, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Long received 200 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Long must forfeit his computer and storage device.
IAN NOSEK, a 42-year-old resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, was sentenced on October 23, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Nosek received 216 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Nosek must forfeit his camera and storage devices.
PHILLIP MORRIS, 42-year-old resident of Jeffersonville, Indiana was sentenced on October 22, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Morris received 216 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Morris must forfeit his storage devices and cell phone.
JOSEPH PURIFICATO, a 23-year-old resident of Mount Vernon, Missouri was sentenced on October 28, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Purificato received 180 months in prison, 10 years supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Purificato must forfeit his computers and thumb drive.
JEFFREY WOOLLEY, a 53-year-old resident of Nicholasville, Kentucky, was sentenced on October 28, 2014 in connection with his April 2014 plea to guilty. Woolley received 180 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $29,859 restitution. In addition, Woolley must forfeit his computer and storage devices.
Two additional defendants, Joshua Peterson, 45, of Prescott, Arizona, and Steven Grovo, 35, of Shirley, Massachusetts, were found guilty of participating in a child exploitation enterprise and a conspiracy to advertise child pornography on Oct. 9, 2014 after a trial. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2015 in Missoula.
All defendants appeared before and were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy of Missoula.