Camas Church Volunteer Arrested on Federal Child Porn Charges

By Faris Tanyos
KOIN
January 11, 2013

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Camas-church-volunteer-arrested-on-federal-child/uWfXcZC7AkaV3KL8LmX5Sg.cspx

A 24-year-old man who volunteered at a Camas church youth group and was reportedly studying to become a child sex abuse counselor was taken into custody this week on federal child pornography charges.

Bradley J. Gilliam of Vancouver was arrested Tuesday on counts of possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography, following an ongoing, multiagency investigation lead by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to a press release from ICE, Gilliam is accused of sharing illicit images through a peer-to-peer online network, where he used the username ‘Bllover69.’ Investigators traced the username to Gilliam’s Vancouver residence using his Internet protocol address.

Last summer, local and federal investigators served a search warrant at Gilliam’s home, seizing his laptop and other digital storage devices. Forensic analysis of the seized items found thousands of images and videos of child pornography, ICE reports.

When the investigation began, Gilliam was volunteering with the youth group at Camas Grace Church, ICE said. Investigators informed church officials of the ongoing case, and the church suspended Gilliam from its activities.

Gilliam was allegedly enrolled in counseling courses, and was seeking to become a child sex abuse counselor. Officials did not disclose which school he was studying at.

Gilliam was arraigned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Anyone with information on the case can contact HSI at 360-693-7712.

The Vancouver Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force all assisted in the investigation.