Daryl Demkey Sexually Abused a Young Boy and Videotaped the Abuse

            ATLANTA, GA – DARYL DEMKEY, 28, of Roswell, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr. for the production and possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said: “There are few more heinous crimes than the sexual abuse of a young child. Because of the proactive efforts by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, we were able to put a stop to the abuse perpetrated by DEMKEY before it continued any further.  The lengthy sentence, term of supervised release and lifelong requirement that DEMKEY register as a sex offender will ensure that he can no longer gain access to and abuse children.”

            “Protecting our children from individuals like this, who prey upon and sexually exploit children is a top priority for ICE,” said Brock Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Atlanta. “Sexual predators should know that ICE will do everything in its power and use every tool at its disposal to keep our children safe - whether the potential victims are around the block or around the world.”

            DEMKEY was sentenced to 23 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of  supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. He is also required to register as a sex offender upon his release from custody.  DEMKEY pled guilty to the charges on September 1, 2010.

            According to United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court:  During an international investigation into a global organization of pedophiles known as the “Boy Lovers Network” (BLN), agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined that several individuals in the Northern District of Georgia were BLN members and collectors and distributors of child pornography, including JOSEPH GITTINGS and DALE HODGES.  During the course of its investigation of GITTINGS and HODGES, ICE agents determined that DEMKEY, also at one time a BLN member, had a sexual interest in children and was a likely collector of child sexual abuse images.  In November 2009, following the execution of search warrants and the arrests of GITTINGS and HODGES, ICE agents encountered DEMKEY and determined that DEMKEY had recently molested a nine-year old boy and recorded the abuse on his camera in still images and video.  Agents subsequently found those images and videos on DEMKEY's computer. DEMKEY also possessed additional images showing the sexual abuse of children on his computer, most of which he received directly from HODGES.

            This case is being prosecuted as a priority of the Justice Department's Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

            This case was investigated by Special Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-HSI.

            Assistant United States Attorney Jill Steinberg prosecuted the case.

            For further information please contact Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan

 

 

 

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