Randy Anger, a 57-year-old resident of Carnelian Bay, has pleaded guilty to charges of distribution and receipt of child pornography. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents reveal that in May 2021, Anger engaged in the distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material through the Kik Messenger app while communicating with Brent Hooton. Hooton faced separate charges in the Eastern District of California for production and distribution of child pornography and received a 27-year prison sentence. In November 2021, Anger also obtained several images of child sexual abuse material via the Wickr app.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into this case, with support from Homeland Security Investigations and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is handling the prosecution.
Anger's sentencing is scheduled for March 31, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. For both counts—distribution and receipt—he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and could receive up to 20 years per count. The final sentence will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project involves federal, state, and local resources aimed at prosecuting offenders and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the "resources" tab.