ICE HSI investigates Montana man for making and sending child pornography
MISSOULA, Mont. – A Montana man who admitted creating and transporting child pornography videos was sentenced Dec. 10 to 20 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) joined Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson in the announcement.
David Paul Farrar, 58, pleaded guilty Aug. 4 to sexual exploitation of a child and transportation of child pornography.
“Homeland Security Investigations special agents are proud to work closely with the Sanders County Sheriff’s Department to target and arrest individuals who prey on women and children in what should be the safety of their own homes,” said Steven Cagen, special agent in charge, HSI Denver. “Farrar’s sentencing sends a clear message, if you harm children, we will work tirelessly to find you and to bring you to justice.”
In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that while Farrar was away in Idaho in June 2019, he allowed a friend to stay at his home in Plains. The friend viewed electronic storage cards found in Farrar's house and saw that they contained sexually explicit photographs of a female child. The friend reported her findings to law enforcement.
An HSI agent obtained a search warrant for Farrar's residence and seized multiple computers and electronic storage devices. An analysis of the seized items determined they contained video files of the victim and were created sometime in 2013 or 2014. The videos were created using a cell phone or digital camera and contained lewd and lascivious images. Agents determined Farrar created the videos because the viewer can see his hand and hear his voice. Farrar also admitted to agents that he created the videos of the victim.
Agents also found a video of two other minor girls that contained lewd and lascivious images. The investigation determined that Farrar electronically transferred that video to a file on one of his computers.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by HSI.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS and a vital U.S. asset in combatting transnational crime and threats. One of HSI’s top priorities is to protect the public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s child exploitation investigations program is a central component of this mission set. HSI is recognized as a global leader in this investigative discipline, and is committed to utilizing its vast authorities, international footprint and strong government and non-government partnerships to identify and rescue child victims, identify and apprehend offenders, prevent transnational child sexual abuse, and help make the internet a safer place for children.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from online sexual abuse, visit HSI's iGuardians program.
To report a crime, call 866-347-2423 (TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196) or visit the ICE Tip Line.
Updated: