Edward Christy Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Pornography Offenses

ALBUQUERQUE—This afternoon in federal court, Albuquerque resident Edward Christy, 58, entered a guilty plea to a two-count information charging him with (1) coercion and enticement of a minor to travel in interstate commerce to engage in sexual activity, and (2) possession of child pornography. Under the plea agreement, Christy will be sentenced to a nine-year term of imprisonment. Christy will have to serve a term of supervised release of not less than five years and not more than life after he completes his prison sentence. He also will be required to register as a sex offender. Christy has been in federal custody since his arrest on June 1, 2010, and he remains detained pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

According to court records, Christy was arrested at his Albuquerque residence on state charges on November 9, 2009, after he was found with an underage female (the child) from California who had been reported as missing by her parents. Christy was indicted on federal charges on May 26, 2010, and a superseding indictment was filed on April 26, 2011.

In his plea agreement, Christy admitted that, between October 1, 2009 and November 9, 2009, he induced the child, whom he knew to be 16 years old, to travel from California to New Mexico to engage in sexual activity during sexually explicit conversations with the child. Christy acknowledged transporting the child from her home in Westminister, California to Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 8, 2009, without the permission of her parents. He also admitted having sexual intercourse with the child.

According to the plea agreement, Christy also admitted that, when law enforcement officers executed a search of his residence on November 9, 2009, they seized computers and computer-related media which contained numerous images of child pornography. Christy acknowledged that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children determined that the child pornography found on his computers and computer-related media included 133 videos of 27 children who have been identified as child pornography victims and have been rescued.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charlyn E. Rees and Holland S. Kastrin, and was investigated by the Bernalillo County’s Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the FBI Regional Computer Forensic Lab in New Mexico, the District Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial District of the State of New Mexico, the Westminister Police Department, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case also was brought as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force’s (ICAC Task Force) mission to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 61 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the NMAGO. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.

Seeking Information on Westminster Bank Robbery

The Westminster Police Department and the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF) are investigating a bank robbery.

Premier Credit Union

8440 Federal Boulevard

Westminster, Colorado

05/24/2011, 9:15 a.m.

The suspect is described as a black male, 25 to 30 years of age, approximately 6’2” to 6’3” in height, approximately 160 to 180 pounds, with a thin mustache.

The suspect presented a demand note for money and then fled from the bank.

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

$100K Reward Offered

$100K Reward Offered for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of “20 Questions Bandits," Violent Group Robbing Banks in Multiple Counties


May 5, 2010 - FBI agents and detectives with multiple law enforcement agencies in three counties are seeking the public’s assistance in learning the identity of the “20 Questions Bandits," a group of at least four unidentified men believed to be responsible for 11 takeover bank robberies in Ventura, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. U.S. Bank, East West Bank, Cathay Bank, and several Bank of America locations were targeted by the bandits. Bank of America is offering a reward of up to $100,000* in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for these robberies.

During the various robberies, the bandits were extremely violent and, in some cases, displayed weapons. Witnesses have described four black males, in some cases armed with guns, who have forced bank employees and customers inside the bank to comply with their demands for cash and to follow their instructions. In some cases, the bandits also robbed victims of personal belongings. During the initial robberies linked to this group, the suspects asked several questions while inside the bank, according to witnesses and were, therefore, nicknamed the 20 Questions Bandits.

The most recent robbery attributed to the 20 Questions Bandits occurred on April 2, 2010 at a Bank of America in the city of Newport Beach. The following is a list of robberies law enforcement has linked to the 20 Questions Bandits:

3/3/09: U.S. Bank, Thousand Oaks, CA

7/2/09: Bank of America, Thousand Oaks, CA

11/13/09: U.S. Bank, Ventura, CA

11/19/09: East West Bank, Artesia, CA

12/7/09: Bank of America, Oxnard, CA

12/10/09: Bank of America, El Monte, CA

1/21/10: Bank of America, Westminster, CA

1/25/10: Bank of America, San Clemente, CA

2/5/10: Bank of America, Pomona, CA

3/10/10: Cathay Bank, Rowland Heights, CA

4/2/10: Bank of America, Newport Beach, CA

To date, there have been 101 bank robberies within the seven county region comprising the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office territory (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange). Of that number, 22 were takeover robberies. On this date last year (2009), there were 149 robberies in the same seven county area; 37 of which were takeovers.

This investigation is being conducted jointly by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department; the Oxnard Police Department; the Ventura Police Department; the LAPD; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the El Monte Police Department; the Westminster Police Department; the Newport Beach Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff’s Department; the Pomona Police Department; and the FBI. Photographs can be found at www.labankrobbers.org. Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI, the above-listed agencies, or 911. The FBI may be reached 24 hours a day at 888 CANT HIDE (888 226-8443).

*A reward is paid for original information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of a criminal suspect. Bank of America, in its sole discretion, will decide who is entitled to a reward and in what amount. Bank of America may pay only a portion of the maximum reward offered, up to $100,000. The decision will be based primarily upon law enforcement's evaluation of the value of the information provided. When there are multiple claimants, the reward will be shared in amounts determined by Bank of America. Bank of America associates are not eligible for the reward. This reward offer is good for one year from the date it is first offered, unless extended by Bank of America.

Baseball, Stalkers and Submarines

Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website added three police officers who have written on subjects including baseball, stalking and Japanese submarines.

James Hughes is a retired detective from the Merrimack Police Department (New Hampshire). He also participates in his local youth baseball league, both as a board member and coach. He teamed up with his son, Nick Hughes, a then eleventh grader in New Hampshire to write his books.

The father and son team co-authored Hey Dad, Wanna Play Catch? and Hey Dad, Wanna Pitch to Me?. According to the book description of, Hey Dad, Wanna Pitch to Me? “For their second book, father and son have teamed up again to share their baseball knowledge with kids of all ages. Five easy-to-read chapters offer hitting tips that every youngster should know and learn to become a better hitter. Included in each chapter are photos and words of encouragement from 36 former major league baseball players.”

Detective Mike Proctor is a thirty-year veteran of the Westminster Police Department and is a recognized expert on stalking who has worked and consulted on over 100 stalking cases. He has appeared on 20/20, America's Most Wanted, CNN, The Maury Povich Show, Unsolved Mysteries, and Case Closed, and is frequently quoted in the press. He also consulted on the 1996 Police Officers Standards and Training video training course on stalking and teaches at both the professional and university level.

Detective Mike Proctor holds a BA in Geography from California State College, Long Beach; and, a Lifetime Standard Secondary Teaching Credential, as well as a Community College Credential. Additionally, he has had over 900 hours of law enforcement academic training in courses such as: Sexual Assault investigation, Domestic Violence-Advance Investigator training; Psychological Profiling and Criminal Investigation Analysis; AFT Bomb and crime scene Investigation; Occult and Ritualistic Crime Scene Investigation; and, Homicide Investigation techniques.

Detective Mike Proctor is the author of How to Stop a Stalker. According to his book description, “This indispensable handbook on a serious problem, complete with many examples taken from actual cases, will be of great use to current or potential stalking victims, victim advocates, law enforcement officials, personnel departments, and employers.”

Gary Nila is a former Los Angeles Police Department police officer and FBI Special Agent who now works as an investigator with Northrop Grumman Corp. Air Combat Systems. He has been a collector of World War II Japanese military uniforms and equipment for over 30 years, but specializes in researching and collecting Japanese naval flight equipment and dress. He has interviewed many former IJN pilots including Saburo Sakai, Sudamu Komaichi, and Masajiro Kawato.

Gary Nila is the co-author of Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937-45 (Elite); Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces: Uniforms and equipment 1937-45 (Men-at-Arms); and, I-400 Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine - Objective Panama Canal.

According to the book description of I-400 Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine, “The I-400 'super submarine' was one of the most monstrous creations to emerge from the Second World War and in its time it was the largest submarine ever built. It was considered to have been one of Japan's most secret weapons - indeed the Allies remained unaware of its existence until it surrendered in late August 1945. The Imperial Japanese Navy tasked the I-400 with a secret mission to attack American cities and to destroy the Panama Canal.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 547 police officers (representing 226 police departments) and their 1161 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.