(Image source: New Times/Broward County Sheriff’s Office)

BY EMILY SPAIN


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A top Immigration and Customs Enforcement official from South Florida faces child pornography charges.  50-year-old Anthony Mangione (MAN-GEE-OWN) faced a judge Wednesday after a nearly 6-month long investigation.

Here’s Florida’s WSVN with more.

“Agents say they found child pornography on his home computer.  Mangione has been on administrative leave since that investigation began back in April. He’s facing a judge today. ”

Mangione is charged with receiving child pornography along with possession and transportation of it between March and September 2010. And as a blogger for Daily Mail notes, some might call this karma.

“...as special agent in charge of ICE’s South Florida office, Mangione often praised the agency’s efforts to fight child pornography in both the cyber and real worlds.”

The Sun Sentinel quotes Mangione in a 2008 press release after ICE put a man behind bars for 10 years... the crime? Using the Internet to lure in a minor for sexual activities.

Mangione said, “This case reveals the disturbing truth that child predators will go to great lengths to sexually exploit minors...ICE is committed to identifying and arresting these individuals who seek to victimize children and help ensure that justice is served.”

But Mangione has pleaded not guilty -- so he’s innocent until proven otherwise. But the emails reportedly found on his AOL account now have him facing up to 50 years in federal prison.

And in court Wednesday West Palm Beach’s WPTV reported a new development. Mangione is headed to Miami because both the defense and prosecution want a psychological evaluation of him. And the judge agreed to it. Here’s why:

Reporter: “His defense attorney did talk to us outside of the courthouse as to why this psychological evaluation was requested.  Here’s what he said...”
David Howard: “Because the government has concerns that given the magnitude of the charges that he might melt down. So there is no such real concern and it’s going to be addressed.”

If convicted Mangione will also have to register as a sex offender. He has served 27-years in law enforcement and has headed up ICE’s regional office since July 2007.



Transcript by Newsy.