TACOMA, WA – James Donald Mobley, 47, a former teacher at Tenino Elementary School, admitted today to a sickening crime: possessing child pornography. Mobley pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, bringing a dark chapter to a close – though the damage is already done. U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced the guilty plea, the result of a long-running investigation that exposed a disturbing network of exploitation.
The arrest of Mobley, initially made in January 2013, stemmed from an investigation into Azovfilms.com, a Toronto-based website masquerading as a “naturist films” provider. Postal Inspectors quickly determined it was a global hub for distributing child pornography through the mail and online downloads. In May 2011, foreign authorities raided Azovfilms, seizing hundreds of DVDs and business records. Those records led directly to Mobley, showing multiple purchases of suspected illegal content between February 2009 and January 2011.
A search of Mobley’s home turned up a trove of depravity: a computer, external storage devices, and DVDs filled with images and videos of child pornography. Forensic analysis revealed a staggering 650 images and 45 videos depicting the abuse of children. This wasn’t a one-time mistake; it was a sustained pattern of accessing and possessing horrific material. Mobley’s past as an educator and Boy Scout volunteer makes the betrayal all the more chilling.
This case unfolded as part of “Project Spade,” a massive international effort targeting Azovfilms.com. The investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has yielded remarkable results: 386 children have been rescued from direct abuse and exploitation thanks to the dedicated work of investigators. Mobley is one of 348 individuals arrested worldwide as part of the Spade investigation, a clear indication of the scale of this vile operation.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Mobley will face a psycho-sexual evaluation, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and will be required to undergo sexual deviancy treatment. Both the prosecution and defense are recommending a four-year prison sentence when U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton hands down the sentence on March 21, 2014. However, Judge Leighton is not bound by the agreement and could impose the statutory maximum of 20 years behind bars.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Tenino Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth is prosecuting the case. This conviction sends a message: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice, even when operating in the shadows of the internet. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.
Related Federal Cases
- Kelso Predator Lee Gets 25 Years for Child Porn · Washington
- Bellevue Predator: 9 Years for Child Porn Empire · Iowa
- Arlington Predator Sentenced for Child Porn Distribution · Washington
- Joseph Schesso Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Distribution · Washington
- Brown Gets 15 Years for Sickening Child Porn Ring · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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