Man arrested for child porn in undercover sting

Undercover United States Postal Inspection Service officials and Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a Manatee County man Aug. 14 for accepting a package containing child pornogoraphy.

According to Manatee County Sheriff's Office reports, an ongoing undercover operation with the United States Postal Inspection Service identified several individuals for purchasing items containing child pornography or child erotica from a commercial company in California. William J. Zimmerman, of the 1200 block of 51st Avenue East, was on a list of more than 700 individuals meeting the criteria of purchasing this type of material.

Zimmerman received correspondence from the USPIS in an undercover capacity (fictitious company letterhead) regarding specific details on available videos that contain that of child pornography, to purchase via a mail order. The descriptions of the videos ordered by Zimmerman via this correspondence were clearly that of hardcore child pornography.

An undercover agent delivered a package containing four DVDs to Zimmerman at about 8:05 a.m., Aug. 14. Zimmerman accepted and signed for the package. At the completion of the controlled delivery, a federal search warrant was executed about six to seven minutes later. The package and its contents were located and recovered in the defendant's bedroom on his bed.

An interview with Zimmerman post-Miranda revealed information not only relating to this investigation but also information about other incidents that may include lewd and lascivious molestration of a minor, the report said. Zimmerman admitted he knew the contents of the package and that it was illegal to order, purchase and possess child pornography. Zimmerman said this was not the first time he has ordered child pornography. During the interview, Zimmerman admitted to downloading and viewing child pornography on his computer.

Zimmerman will be charged with four counts of possession of child pornography, with other charges pending.

Tha Manatee County Sheriff's Office's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit is asking that anyone with information on victims to contact Det. Todd Sellitto at 747-3011, Ext. 1909.