Ballston Spa man sentenced on child porn charges

Homeland Security Investigations agents seized computer, two bags of CDs and thumb drive

BUFFALO, NY - James Ramos, 59, of Ballston Spa, New York was sentenced to 180 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release on charges of possession of child pornography following an investigation by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Albany, New York.

Lev J. Kubiak, special agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Buffalo stated: "Individuals who sexually exploit innocent children will be brought to justice. Mr. Ramos' sentencing serves as a stern warning that anyone who engages in any aspect of child pornography, from viewing to distributing, will pay a hefty price for their actions."

HSI agents and officers from the New York State Parole Office arrested Ramos at his residence in November 2008, seizing one laptop computer and approximately 16 CDs. In March 2009, a superseding indictment was issued by a Grand Jury in the Northern District of New York against Ramos on two counts of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. Ramos informed HSI agents he was responsible for viewing child pornography via the Internet.

In June 2010 he was convicted in the Northern District of New York following a three-day jury trial and was found guilty on one count of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. Ramos has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals on November 23.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.blogger.com/exec/leaving.asp?url=http://www.cybertipline.com/.