A Stickney fire lieutenant was arrested at his North Riverside home by the FBI Friday, Sept. 26, for allegedly having more than 1,000 images of child pornography on compact discs.

Michael Gruber, 53, 2528 Keystone Ave., has been charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography, according to an FBI press release issued Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The FBI’s Innocent Images Task Force identified Gruber as a possible purchaser of child pornography over the Internet. After obtaining a search warrant, the FBI discovered 53 compact discs filled with still and video images downloaded from the Internet of apparent minor children engaging in sexually explicit activity, according to the release.

Gruber admitted having numerous images and that he looked for child pornography images that depicted children from the ages of newborn to 17-years-old, according to the FBI’s criminal complaint.

Gruber is married and has three daughters ages 11, 19 and 21. His wife reportedly told the FBI that about a year ago she saw his home desktop, located in the family’s home basement, with photos of children exposing themselves, according the complaint. When she asked Gruber about the photos, he said he was “just looking,” according to the federal complaint.

The firefighter directed FBI agents to the basement’s drop ceiling, where he stored the CDs.
maeStickney Fire Chief Larry Meyer said Gruber has been employed at the fire department for 22 years and is currently suspended.

“Well, it is disturbing and everyone is pretty upset about it. No one had any idea he would be involved with something like this,” Meyer said. “I never would have guessed in a million years he would have done something like this.” end

Gruber appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Maria Valdez in Chicago during the afternoon Sept. 26. He was released on bond pending his next court appearance. If convicted, Gruber faces up to 10 years in prison.