James Ripberger, Child Exploitation, Connecticut 2019

A Glastonbury man has been handed a 12-year prison sentence for his involvement in child exploitation offenses. James Ripberger, 63, was sentenced to 150 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Ripberger was arrested on December 15, 2017, and has been detained since then. His guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography was accepted on January 16, 2019.

The defendant's Glastonbury residence was searched on October 12, 2017, where law enforcement officers seized computers and electronic storage devices. Analysis of the seized items revealed more than 2,200 images and videos of child pornography, over 17,000 images of child erotica, and multiple images and videos of a minor victim who Ripberger surreptitiously recorded in various states of undress.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Glastonbury Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

The charges against Ripberger are the result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which aims to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. This initiative encourages the public to report cases of child exploitation.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting children from exploitation and abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/glastonbury-man-sentenced-more-12-years-federal-prison-child-exploitation-offenses