Daily Archives: September 28, 2011

South Fla. customs chief arrested on child-porn charges

MIAMI — The head ofImmigration and Customs Enforcement for South Florida was arrested Tuesday after images of child pornography were allegedly found on his home computer, local media reported.

Anthony V. Mangione, 50, was arrested by U.S. marshals and taken to the Broward County Jail, according to jail records. He was expected to make an initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday.

Mangione was arrested on charges of possessing and distributing, authorities told The Miami Herald.

Federal officials remained tight-lipped about the arrest.

ICE officials referred questions to the Justice Department. A Justice Department official in Washington declined comment on the case. The U.S. Marshals Service did not return a call for comment.

Mangione has been on paid administrative leave since April when FBI agents searched his home and office as part of a child pornography investigation. Four images of child porn were found on his personal computer at his home in Parkland, The Miami Herald reported at the time.

The investigation continued and grew significantly over the summer, leading to the Internet-related, child-pornography charges being filed under seal, sources told The Miami Herald.

As special agent in charge of ICE’s South Florida office, Mangione has often praised the federal agency’s efforts to fight child porn.

“Too many children are victimized by predators that target the most vulnerable among us — our children,” Mangione said in a 2009 press release announcing the sentencing of a 20-year-old Palm Beach County man on child porn charges, according to the Herald.

In a 2008 press release announcing the sentencing of a Martin County man to 10 years for using the Internet to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, Mangione was quoted as saying: “This case reveals the disturbing truth that child predators will go to great lengths to sexually exploit minors,” the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. “ICE is committed to identifying and arresting these individuals who seek to victimize children and help ensure that justice is served.”

Mangione’s area of command covered nine South Florida counties. He was responsible for overseeing investigations into drug smuggling, money laundering and financial crimes, commercial fraud, national security and cyber crimes, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Mangione was reportedly planning to retire this summer. He has served his entire federal career with ICE and its predecessor, the U.S. Customs Service, according to the Herald.

A call to Action!

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act expires soon and needs yo…ur support to ensure this landmark legislation is both improved and continues to ensure the rescue and support of victims of modern slavery. What can you do? Call or e-mail your U.S. representative. Urge them to support the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R.2830). It’s easy to find your representative’s contact info at the top right corner of the House of Representatives website (http://www.house.gov/).  Here’s what you can say to their receptionists, aides or voicemails:
“My name is ___ and I live in your district. I’m calling to ask the congressman/congresswoman to co-sponsor H.R.2830, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). I also want to ask him/her to strengthen the act, by requiring major companies to disclose on their websites and in annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission what they’re doing to end trafficking and slavery. The congressman/congresswoman can do this by including provisions of H.R.2759, the Business Transparency on Slavery and Trafficking Act, into the TVPRA.”

FBI Finds 100,000 Child Porn Images on Suspect’s PC

A St. Petersburg man faces 15 counts of possession and transmission of the illicit materials.

  • A 43-year-old St. Petersburg man faces 15 counts of child pornography after authorities found more than 100,000 illicit images of minors on his computer.

    Jeffrey Todd Lobdell of 425 2nd St.  North, Apt. 28, was arrested Tuesday after the FBI and  detectives with the St. Petersburg Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit served a search warrant at his apartment.

    Lobdell was taken into custody after his computer and files were seized.

    Lobdell is being charged with 15 counts of possession  and/or transmission of child pornography. He will be booked into the Pinellas  County Jail.

    ByLinda Hersey