John Goelz, 30, a swim coach with Carmel High School and Carmel Swim Club in Indiana, was sentenced Wednesday to 200 months, (almost 17 years), in federal prison after admitting to sexually exploiting one of his student athletes, according to U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler, Southern District of Indiana.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Hamilton County Indiana Metro Child Exploitation Task Force.

Goelz exploited his position of trust and authority with one of his student athletes, a minor, for his own sexual gratification.

(Learn More. Courtesy of WTHR and YouTube. Posted on Jul 5, 2018.)

During that time, Goelz contacted the victim via text messages and other messaging applications that concealed the conversations to arrange sexual encounters at locations, such as Goelz’s residence, community parks and motels.

On June 30, 2018, Goelz used his cellphone to take videos of the victim engaging in sexual activity with him at a motel room in Anderson, Indiana.

Two video files, along with multiple images, were recovered by federal investigators on Goelz’s cellphone after the execution of a search warrant, depicting the victim engaging in oral sex with Goelz.

Computer evidence showed that the video files were filmed with Goelz’s phone.

“Today’s sentence sends a strong message to those whom we put trust in to supervise and coach our children, that this behavior is illegal and those who take advantage of our children will face real consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler, Southern District of Indiana.

“Protecting our youth from sexual predators will always remain a top priority of this office.”

“This is yet another example of a selfish and criminal act on the part of an individual who took advantage of a position of authority over a child,” said Lt. Cameron Ellison, Hamilton County Indiana Metro Child Exploitation Task Force.

“Cases involving adults in such positions have become far too common in our society. Each member of our community should take note of these cases, commit to remaining off the sidelines, and communicate with law enforcement when these types of abuses are suspected.”

“It was a community tip that led to the investigation, arrest and prosecution in this case. Law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities, at all levels, will continue to work together when such allegations are made.”

“We will work together, with laser focus, to first protect our children, then to investigate these crimes and separate the individuals responsible from our children and society.”

Goelz must also serve 10 years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, Southern District of Indiana, who prosecuted this case.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators.

Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 16,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children.

In fiscal year 2017, more than 2,700 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 900 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form.

Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

(Make it hard for predators to hide; download the Operation Predator app today from iTunes or Google Play. Courtesy of ICE .gov)

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations Honored in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

• Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU)

• ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’

The HRVWCC is comprised of ICE HSI’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit, ICE’s Human Rights Law Section, FBI’s International Human Rights Unit and HRSP.

Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.

(Learn About ICE HSI Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) which conducts investigations focused on human rights violations in an effort to prevent the United States from becoming a safe haven to those individuals who engage in the commission of war crimes, genocide, torture and other forms of serious human rights abuses from conflicts around the globe. Courtesy of ICE .gov and YouTube.)

HRVWCC Mission

The unit has four important missions:

1. To prevent the admission of foreign war crimes suspects, persecutors and human rights abusers into the United States.
2. To identify and prosecute individuals who have been involved and/or responsible for the commission of human rights abuses across the globe.
3. To remove, whenever possible, those offenders who are located in the United States.
4. To oversee the development of programs in response to the former President’s Presidential Study Directive-10, the prevention of mass atrocities.

The HRVWCC leverages the expertise of a select group of agents, lawyers, intelligence and research specialists, historians and analysts who direct the agency’s broader enforcement efforts against these offenders.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.

Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:

• The Department of Homeland Security
• The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
• Argonne National Laboratory
• The Department of Homeland Security
• The Department of Justice
• The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Desktop Alert, and Royal Holdings Technologies.

2018 Champions Edition

See the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Champions Edition – ‘Best Products of 2018 ‘ Year in Review’ for in-depth coverage of the outstanding products and services of firms receiving American Security Today’s 2018‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards.’

Nominations for the AST 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program will officially open as of January 1st, 2019 at americansecuritytoday.com.

Enter Early to Maximize Media Coverage of your Products and Services at Kickoff, and Get the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!

And be sure to Register Early for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East 2019 to ensure your place at this limited- space event!

Why the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?

American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’

Why American Security Today?

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 70,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.

The old traditional security marketplace has been covered by a host of security publications that have changed little over many years.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that provides our readers with solutions to their challenges.

Our Editorial staff provides a full plate of topics for our AST monthly digital editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts.

The editorial calendar and AST’s high drawing website features 23 different Technology and Marketing Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities and Emergency Response among others.

These sectors are part of the new integration, where these major applications communicate with one another in a variety of solutions to protect our cities and critical infrastructure.

AST has Expanded readership into vital Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other Potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – enticing targets for extremist or lone wolf attacks due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.