Randy Anger, a 57-year-old resident of Carnelian Bay, was sentenced to five years in prison for offenses related to child exploitation. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and $10,200 in special assessments, as revealed by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents indicated that Anger was involved in distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material through the Kik Messenger app in May 2021, during communications with Brent Hooton. Hooton, charged separately in the Eastern District of California, faced convictions for production and distribution of child pornography and received a 27-year prison sentence. In November 2021, Anger also received similar material using the Wickr app.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow handled the prosecution.
The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative from the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to tackle the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program involves U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in efforts to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals involved in such criminal activities, alongside identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc, including internet safety education resources.