Goldberg Gets 10 Years for Child Porn

TULSA, Okla. – A Mannford man with a disturbing history has been handed a significant federal sentence for possessing horrific material. Gary Syd Goldberg, 77, was sentenced today to 120 months – ten years – in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced.

U.S. District Judge Eric F. Melgren didn’t mince words, also tacking on 10 years of supervised release following Goldberg’s incarceration. And it doesn’t end there: Goldberg will be required to register as a sex offender upon his eventual release, a permanent mark of his depravity.

The case unfolded after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged a disturbing upload. Investigators traced the activity back to Goldberg, who was found to have uploaded an image depicting the sexual abuse of a child. A subsequent search of his Mannford home turned up a sickening cache of electronic devices filled with the evidence of his obsession. When confronted, Goldberg chillingly admitted to possessing hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children – and to viewing them daily for the past 24 years.

This wasn’t Goldberg’s first brush with the law. Court records reveal a prior conviction in 2001 for Receipt of Child Pornography through the Mail, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence. The system failed to protect potential victims then, and now Goldberg will face a longer, hopefully more effective, period of confinement.

The investigation was a collaborative effort, led by the Mannford Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Ashley Robert skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the sentence that reflects the severity of Goldberg’s crimes. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program aims to coordinate federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators and rescue victims. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to protect vulnerable children.