Canadian Man Arrested and Indicted for Transporting Child Pornography

United States Attorney Steven M. Biskupic announced today that Eric “Rick” Gauthier, 49, from Alberta, Canada, was indicted today for transporting child pornography. Gauthier was originally arrested in Lewiston, Idaho on February 14, 2008, after he traveled there from Canada for the alleged purpose of delivering child pornography to a person with whom he had had computer chats, who in fact was an undercover agent. At the time of his arrest, Gauthier was charged by criminal complaint issued in Milwaukee federal court for three counts of transportation of child pornography. Subsequent to his arrest, Gauthier appeared in federal court in Idaho and was ordered detained without bond until he appears in federal court in Milwaukee.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that on February 7, 2008, February 8, 2008, and February 10, 2008, Gauthier transported child pornography by means of a webcam and computer from Canada to the Eastern District of Wisconsin. If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Gauthier faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and $250,000 in fines on each count.

This case was the result of joint investigation by the Milwaukee Police Department, Criminal Investigation Bureau’s High Technology Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Task Force in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Lewiston, Idaho and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre. The case has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Penelope L. Coblentz.

According to United States Attorney Steven M. Biskupic, the “Department of Justice has made the protection of our nation’s children a top priority through Project Safe Childhood and prosecutions such as this further this priority.”

The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely the formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute evidence of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, the government establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Press Releases | Milwaukee Home