LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man was sentenced Oct. 25, to life without parole in federal prison after admitting to producing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of nearly three-dozen children – one of whom was exploited over the course of at least two years, and performed sex acts online in exchange for money.
Billy Edward Frederick, 52, of Redondo Beach, California, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who after sentencing Frederick to life, said that “to say his conduct is despicable is an understatement.”
“Our unrelenting investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and our federal partners resulted in this child predator going away for life in federal prison for his egregious crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang, HSI Long Beach. “HSI will continue to work tirelessly for the victims to identify these dangerous offenders and bring them to justice. Our efforts are vital in protecting our nation’s most vulnerable population from sexual predators.”
Judge Fischer added that “life in prison adequately reflects the seriousness of the offense,” in which Frederick “targeted” victims in a “part of the world where children are known for being sexually exploited.”
Frederick pleaded guilty in September 2021 to two felony offenses: production of child pornography for transportation into the United States and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, Frederick obtained and stored in his Google accounts various images and videos depicting child sex abuse material. In messages sent to Frederick, several victims call Frederick “master.” Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum that Frederick exploited “young boys in the Philippines in need of money for food and school.”
Frederick admitted to producing more than 5,000 images and videos of child pornography involving at least 35 different children by requesting these children engage in specified sexually explicit activity in exchange for money. Some of the videos and images depicted minor victims under the age of 12 being used for sexual acts.
“Using Google Chat to bridge their geographical divide, [Frederick], while living in Los Angeles County, exploited numerous boys who lived in the Philippines,” according to the sentencing memorandum. Frederick’s “years-long conversations with these Philippine boys were not coded; they were explicit and lurid – brimming with details regarding what defendant liked, demanded, and expected from his victims, should they wish to be paid.”
In addition to the life sentence, Judge Fischer ordered Frederick to pay $5,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015; $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018, and $8,000 in restitution to one of the victims.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathy Yu of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
HSI
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