Former Customs and Border agent from Minnetonka admits in court to possessing child pornography

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent admitted in federal court Friday to possessing child pornography on multiple devices.

Anthony John Crowley, 52, of Minnetonka pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to one count of possessing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He will remain in custody ahead of trial, which has not yet been scheduled.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, acting on a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, was warned in 2022 that a person was using the social media app Kik to upload the images, according to federal prosecutors. The account was linked to Crowley’s phone number and email address.

Police seized Crowley’s electronic devices during a search of his home and found numerous abusive images and “child erotica” stories, prosecutors said.

“Anthony Crowley’s crimes against children are a disgrace,” said acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson. “In the last few months, we have seen a rash of law enforcement officers, public officials, and others in positions of trust abusing children. I have zero tolerance for this betrayal. This office will not relent in holding powerful predators to account.”

Crowley’s charges came one week after Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Timothy Ryan Gregg, 51, of Eagan was charged in U.S. District Court with coercing and enticing a minor to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.

One month earlier, Minnesota state trooper Jeremy Plonski, 29, of Shakopee was charged federally with one count of production of child pornography. He is also charged in Scott County District Court with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.