An Arizona man, identified as Benjamin D. Rumbo, age 46, will be behind bars for 20 years following his guilty plea for distributing nauseating child pornography, according to a press release issued by the Department of Justice.
Rumbo, hailing from the town of Benson in Arizona, fell into the law's clutches when he engaged in vile exchanges over the internet with what he thought was a parent of a sexually active child but was actually an undercover FBI agent while he was distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), conversation and distribution happened between January and April 2021, Rumbo sent the agent several videos containing CSAM.
Upon getting a bead on Rumbo's activities, authorities obtained a search warrant and discovered he was the account holder, leading to the disturbing find of 17 images and videos that constituted child pornography, as detailed in the court documents.
U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe underscored the importance of these under-the-radar operations, saying "We know child predators use the internet to exchange CSAM, which is why it’s critical for law enforcement officials to work in undercover capacities to detect and identify individuals scheming to abuse minors," her sentiment echoed by FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz, assuring the public that "Protecting children is a priority for the FBI," this substantial sentence not only holds the subject accountable but also serves as a deterrent to others.
This regrettable but necessary legal culmination stems from the national Project Safe Childhood initiative, a DOJ-launched crusade since May 2006 aimed at stifling the alarming rise in child sexual exploitation and abuse, marshaling a formidable coalition of federal, state, and local resources to better hunt down and bring to justice internet fiends preying on innocent children and to aid in the rescue of victims.
The commendable diligence of the FBI Springfield Field Office, helmed the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Bloodworth and David Sanders effectively prosecuting this egregious case, ensuring that one more predator is barred from causing further harm to society's most vulnerable.
