A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent working at San Francisco International Airport has been arrested on child porn charges, prosecutors said today.
Gilbert Lam, 37, was arrested last Saturday and will be arraigned on March 26 on two felony charges of distributing and possession of child pornography, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office spokesman Alex Bastian said.
The investigation began in August 2011 when San Jose police began a child porn investigation and eventually identified Lam, a San Francisco resident, as a suspect. They contacted San Francisco police and authorities served search warrants at Lam’s home, confiscating several electronic devices, Bastian said.
More than 80 child porn videos were found in the suspect’s possession, including ones of children younger than 10 years old, according to Bastian.
Lam remains in custody on $250,000 bail. If convicted, he would have to register as a sex offender for life and faces up to three years in prison, Bastian said.
“We expect the men and women in uniform to uphold the laws and protect our citizens. Mr. Lam’s conduct is very disturbing and will be met with very serious consequences,” District Attorney George Gascon said.
A statement about the case was also released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.
“We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off duty,” the statement said.
Lam is set to be arraigned on the charges in San Francisco Superior Court on March 26.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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