Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 1 of 7 PageID 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION CRIMINAL COMPLAINT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VS. CASE NUMBER: 8:06- 8:06M3 1 2 2 C T B M JOSEPH DEGREGORIO I, Linda Walker, Postal Inspector, the undersigned complainant, being duly sworn, state the following is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. On an unknown date between April 27, 2002 and May 31, 2002, in the Middle District of Florida, and elsewhere, Joseph Degregorio, the defendant herein, did knowingly transport an individual who had not attained the age of eighteen (18) years in interstate commerce, with intent that the individual engage in sexual activity for which the defendant could be charged with a criminal offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a). 1 further state that I am a Postal lnspector with the US. Postal lnspection Service, and that this Complaint is based on the following facts: SEE ATTACHED AFFIDAVIT Continued on the attached sheet and made a part hereof: Yes No 4!&4&3- W& Signature of Com~lainant ~ i d Walker, a 'postal Inspector U.S. Postal lnspection Service Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence, June 22.2006 at T a m ~ a Florida , THOMAS B. MCCOUN, Ill United States Maqistrate Judqe Name & Title of Judicial Officer + Signature f Judicial Officer Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 2 of 7 PageID 2 AFFIDAVIT 1. I am a Postal lnspector with the United States Postal Inspection Service currently assigned t o the Tampa Field Office of the Miami Division. I have been employed as a Postal lnspector for approximately eleven years. I have been assigned t o investigate violations of child pornography and related child exploitation statutes for approximately three years. I have attended specialized training t o include lnternet Crimes Against Children Investigator's Training in Covington, Georgia; the 1 gth National Symposium on Child Abuse in Huntsville, Alabama; and the 1 5th and 16thAnnual Crimes Against Children Conferences in Dallas, Texas. I am also a member of the North Florida lnternet Crimes Against Children Task Force. During m y time as a Child Exploitation Specialist, I have either been the case agent or have participated in the execution of search warrants at more than twenty residences of individuals suspected of possessing and/or distributing child pornography. In each of these cases, child pornography and child erotica, t o include lewd and lascivious displays of minor and prepubescent boys, have been located within the residences. The child pornography recovered has been in various forms, t o include slides, developed pictures, VHS tapes and pictures stored on computer hard drives or other computer storage media. 2. This affidavit is made in support of a criminal complaint charging Joseph Degregorio with a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a), charging that between April 27, 2 0 0 2 and May 31, 2002, Joseph Degregorio transported an individual w h o had not attained the age of eighteen years i n interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that the individual engage in sexual activity for which Joseph Degregorio can be charged w i t h a criminal offense. Page 1 of 6 Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 3 of 7 PageID 3 3. The following information is based on m y personal knowledge and information I have received from fellow law enforcement officers. I have set forth only the facts that I believe are necessary t o establish probable cause t o believe Joseph Degregorio committed a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(aI. This investigation is being conducted by agents of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of lnspector General, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. 4. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of lnspector General (HHS OIG) has been conducting an investigation related t o Medicare fraud for approximately eighteen months. Joseph Degregorio was developed as a suspect in the Medicare fraud case. During the course of the investigation, information was developed that Joseph Degregorio has sexually exploited children and that he was in possession of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Joseph Degregorio's current residence is located at 4 4 6 4 Hidden River Rd, Sarasota, Florida. 5. On April 27, 2006, HHS OIG Special Agent Pat Allen and Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Detective Dwight Burns interviewed a Confidential Source (CSl), who provided the following information: a. CS1 is a thirty eight year old male formerly employed by Joseph Degregorio. b. CS1 has known Joseph Degregorio since he was approximately thirteen years old. CS1 met Joseph Degregorio in New York City and later moved w i t h Joseph Degregorio t o Florida. CS1 and C S l ' s brother were both sexually abused and molested by Joseph Degregorio for many years prior t o reaching the age Page 2 of 6 Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 4 of 7 PageID 4 of eighteen. CS1 stated the sexual abuse started with Joseph Degregorio touching and rubbing him in bed. The sexual abuse then progressed t o oral and anal sex. c. CS1 stated that fifteen year old Rodney Degregorio was adopted by Joseph Degregorio four years ago and is a victim of sexual abuse. In April 2 0 0 6 , Rodney Degregorio began fondling C S l ' s feet while watching a movie. CS1 told him that was not cool and asked him t o stop. Rodney Degregorio then brought up the subject of sex and asked CS1 if it was ok t o have sex with someone who is important and CS1 replied t o Rodney Degregorio, "No, you must tell someone." Rodney Degregorio next asked CS1 if it was ok t o have sex with an important person if that person is your dad. CS1 told Rodney Degregorio "No." d. During the interview, CS1 identified seven other victims that Joseph Degregorio molested as young boys. CS1 stated that Joseph Degregorio preys on young boys who live in dysfunctional homes. Joseph Degregorio buys them things and takes them t o the movies and out t o dinner. CS1 stated the boys don't come forward because they are scared of Joseph Degregorio. e. One of the victims CS1 identified was CS2. CS2's mother was formerly employed by Joseph Degregorio. In April 2 0 0 6 , CS1 saw a photo album of naked boys in Joseph Degregorio's bedroom, which included pictures of CS2. A t the time the pictures were taken, CS1 stated C S 2 was probably fourteen t o seventeen years old. 6. On April 1 9 , 2 0 0 6 , Detective Burns interviewed C S 2 , who provided the following information: Page 3 of 6 Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 5 of 7 PageID 5 a. CS2 stated he was sexually abused by Joseph Degregorio when he was fourteen years old. CS2 stated the abuse began when he and his mother were living w i t h one of Joseph Degregorio's employees, Michael Cromwell. mother also worked for Joseph Degregorio. CS-2's It was during that time that CS2 became acquainted with Anthony, a young boy living at Joseph Degregorio's home. b. CS2 eventually moved out of Cromwell's home and into the house of Joseph Degregorio. CS2 stated that he immediately began having sex with Joseph Degregorio 3-4 times a week. CS2 stated he slept on the top bunk and Joseph Degregorio would come into the bedroom and wake him. They would go back t o Joseph Degregorio's bedroom and perform oral as well as anal sex on each other. CS2 indicated this occurred over a period of 5-6 months. c. CS2 stated that on one occasion, Joseph Degregorio showed him a video that was made at Joseph Degregorio's house located on Egerton Circle, a residence still owned by Joseph Degregorio. CS2 stated the video showed Joseph Degregorio having sex w i t h CS1. The video depicted the t w o involved in both oral and anal sex. d. CS2 recalled that Joseph Degregorio had a lot of child porn on his computer. e. CS2 stated that Joseph Degregorio told him he would go t o Costa Rica on business trips and he would arrange t o have sex w i t h children there as well. 7. A federal search warrant was obtained t o search Joseph Degregorio's residence located at 4 4 6 4 Hidden River Road, Sarasota, Florida and his business located at 1 7 3 4 Northgate Blvd, Sarasota, Florida. were executed on June 14, 2006. The federal search warrants Rodney Degregorio was at the residence and Page 4 of 6 Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 6 of 7 PageID 6 agreed to be interviewed by law enforcement. Rodney Degregorio stated he was adopted by Joseph Degregorio when he was eleven years old and living in the State of lowa. Rodney Degregorio stated that Joseph Degregorio began sexually abusing him immediately following the adoption. Rodney Degregorio said on the night after Joseph Degregorio adopted him, they stayed in the honeymoon suite of the Hilton Hotel, Sioux City, lowa. This occurred on or about April 27, 2002. Rodney Degregorio said Joseph Degregorio asked him if he had ever masturbated, then proceeded to masturbate him. Rodney Degregorio stated he still had the key card t o the hotel room in lowa in which they stayed. Members of the search team recovered the key card from Rodney Degregorio's bedroom in Joseph Degregorio's residence on Hidden River Rd. The key card bears the Hilton logo and the word Hilton. Additionally, Joseph Degregorio's MBNA America Credit Card statement for the period ending May 21, 2002, shows charges for a Hilton Hotel in Sioux City, lowa, for the dates of April 26, 2002 through April 28, 2002. Rodney Degregorio m--a-,v~A/;) said the abuse continued after theyFlorida and lived at 4464 Hidden River Rd, Sarasota, Florida. Rodney Degregorio said he and Joseph Degregorio would "69", i.e. they would "suck each other's dicks". time Rodney was 11 until the summer of 2005. This continued from the Rodney Degregorio said Joseph Degregorio would try and initiate sex acts on him after that time; however, Rodney Degregorio was able to "put him off". 8. Based on the facts described above, I submit that there is probable cause to believe that on an unknown date between April 27, 2002 and May 31, 2002, Joseph Degregorio did knowingly transport an individual who had not attained the age of eighteen years in interstate commerce with the intent that the individual Page 5 of 6 Case 8:06-mj-01220-TBM Document 1 Filed 06/22/06 Page 7 of 7 PageID 7 engage in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a). Further affiant sayeth not. ~ i n d aWalker, Postal Inspector U.S. Postal Inspection Service Sworn t o and subscribed before me this day of June, 2006. 6ab2-\ THOMAS B. MCCOUN, Ill United States Magistrate Judge