Man gets 150 years for child porn convictions

updated 12:50 a.m. ET July 16, 2006

WASHINGTON - A Virginia man was sentenced to 150 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors and operating child pornography Web sites.

Gregory John Mitchel, who previously had been convicted of child pornography crimes, pleaded guilty in January to the production, distribution, sale and possession of child pornography.

Mitchel, 39, was sentenced Friday in federal court in Roanoke, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Virginia said.

Officials found that Mitchel, of Dublin, Va., assisted in the daily operation of child pornography Web sites and filmed videos of minors engaging in sex acts.

Mitchel was implicated by Justin Berry, 19, who for five years starred in his own Web cam child pornography business and has testified before Congress about Internet child pornography.

Berry, of Bakersfield, Calif., also testified Friday against Ken Gourlay, of Detroit, who is charged with 10 felony counts related to sexual abuse and distributing sexually abusive material.

Berry testified he was sexually assaulted by Gourlay in 2002.

“He said I was gay and said just try it,” Berry said, his voice breaking. “It confused me ... it messed me up so bad, so bad that to this day I have problems.”

Under cross-examination Berry admitted he was performing sex acts for money over the Internet long before meeting Gourlay.

Gourlay’s attorneys moved to have eight counts dismissed. District Judge J. Cedric Simpson said he would rule Aug. 1 on whether Gourlay should stand trial.

Berry’s story of a lonely teenager who sought friends on the Internet but instead grew rich attracting pedophiles was reported in December by The New York Times.

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Clemency for D.C.-area sniper is denied   Imam wanted in Yemen over al-Qaida ties Fort Hood suspect warned of threats in ranks   2 dead, 2 hurt in office park shooting   Lawyer: No ‘necessity defense’ for Roeder Family sues over boy's gun show death   Campaign begins to stop human trafficking Student reporters allegedly paid witnesses Hacking ring caught in $9 million fraud Letterman plot suspect asks court to drop case Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: