Raleigh Man Who is a Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years for the Receipt of Child Pornography

GREENVILLE – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced THOMAS PAUL KEELER, II, 48, from Raleigh to 240 months in prison, lifetime of supervision upon release and a $5,000.00 fine for the Receipt of Child Pornography (CP).  KEELER pled guilty to the charge on May 12, 2017.

On February 26, 2016, the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in Tampa, Florida contacted HSI in Raleigh utilizing an unidentified smart phone to post child pornography (CP) in several chatrooms. After identifying the subscriber of the chatroom, an undercover agent (UC), posing as the father of a 13-year-old female, subsequently contacted the individual.

The perpetrator’s chat conversations were graphic and explicit in nature as he repeatedly expressed a desire to meet the UC and his fictional 13-year-old daughter in person.  He and the UC subsequently arranged a meeting at the Red Roof Inn (RRI) in Cary, North Carolina. The suspect made it clear through his chat conversations that his intentions were to engage in sexually prohibited conduct with the 13-year-old female. Agents located the suspects profile page and utilized facial recognition software to identify THOMAS PAUL KEELER, II, a registered sex offender, as the individual utilizing the chatroom.

On March 24, 2016, agents arrested KEELER as he entered the RRI parking lot.  A search of KEELER’s vehicle incident to his arrest uncovered a condom and a pair of handcuffs. Additionally, the defendant’s smartphone was seized.  Subsequent to his arrest, KEELER provided an unprotected statement to authorities. Specifically, the defendant acknowledged being previously arrested and convicted of Transportation of Child Pornography; however, he noted that he pulled into the RRI parking lot in order to send a text to a friend.

A search warrant was executed on KEELER’s residence where agents seized two computers, a hard drive, and a flash drive. Additionally, several pairs of women’s underwear and multiple sex toys were located.  A forensic preview of the defendant’s smartphone revealed multiple groups in a chatroom utilized for CP, related to the distribution of CP.  Investigation confirmed the defendant acted as an administrator for one group that traded CP. In order to become a member of the group, an individual was required to post an image of CP or he/she was banned from entering the group.  KEELER also distributed/traded CP via a Dropbox account to members in the chat group.  Agents found 51 videos containing CP in Dropbox links.  Investigation also revealed KEELER engaged in multiple chat conversations with “young girls” between August 8, 2015, and March 24, 2016.

Forensic examination of KEELER’s smartphone and computer equipment revealed at least 1,433 images of CP and 470 videos containing CP.  KEELER’s collection of CP contained images and videos of infants.  Furthermore, several videos depicted sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.

KEELER was previously convicted of Transportation of Child Pornography in Interstate Commerce in this District on September 5, 2000.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Cary Police Department.  The federal prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ethan A. Ontjes.

This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level.  For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.