Burley Man Gets 30 Years for Peddling Child Porn

Burley Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Pocatello, ID – In a harsh reminder of the federal government’s zero-tolerance policy for child predators, Michael Allen Montoya, 40, of Burley, was sentenced to a lengthy 30-year prison term for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.

The investigation, which began when the FBI became aware of Montoya’s online activities, revealed that he had distributed child sexual abuse material through social media and had engaged in online chat conversations discussing his sexual interests in children. The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) obtained a search warrant for Montoya’s residence and discovered numerous files of child sexual abuse material, including explicit images and videos of him abusing an infant and an 8-year-old child in his care.

‘Law enforcement in Idaho has zero tolerance for those that target children for abuse and exploitation,’ Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. ‘These images are not just images – they’re evidence of heinous crimes committed by predators like Montoya.’

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Montoya to lifetime supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution to his victims. Montoya will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho ICAC Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rupert Police Department, the Idaho State Police, the Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the charge. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Erin Blackadar.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.