OSI works with ICE and the Justice Department to put away a child molester

  • Published
  • By Mr. James C. Dillard
  • AFOSI Public Affairs
OSI HQ QUANTICO, Va. --  The Air Force Office of Special Investigations, in conjunction with the Justice Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced the guilty plea of a man responsible for sexually assaulting two boys under the age of 12 on Kadena Air Base, Japan.

In U.S. District Court, Mr. Joshua Gardner, 29, admitted that, sometime between September 1997 and May 2002, he sexually abused the two boys, who were dependents of an Air Force member stationed at Kadena AB. Mr. Gardner admitted to engaging in sexual acts with both boys. At the time of the offenses, he resided in Okinawa.

"It is critical that OSI be involved in these types of cases to ensure an impartial and thorough investigation is conducted, not only for those involved, but for the Air Force as a whole," said Special Agent Courtney Holland, OSI Detachment 211 commander, Moody AFB, Ga. "This case exemplifies the fact that if you prey on a member of the Air Force, or their family, no efforts will be spared to bring you to justice."

Mr. Gardner faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his offenses.

"This case offered up many challenges due to the international jurisdiction and the time frame between the crime and the allegation," said Special Agent James Parker, Det. 211. "I was very impressed by the persistence and tenacity displayed by DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Attorney Mi Yung Park. Without the dedication of AUSA Park and the invaluable support provided by Immigration Customs Enforcement agent SA Summer Jones, we might not have found justice in this case."

Special Agent Kenneth Campbell, Det. 211, also assisted in this investigation. He said he felt a great responsibility to the victims in this case to do the best job he could.

"After listening to the pain in the victim's father voice as he explained the details of his children's assault, I wanted to make sure I did my best," SA Campbell said. "I feel justice was served and glad to see the victims' family can have some closure."

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.

(Some of the information in this article was pulled from a Department of Justice press release.)