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March 21, 2013Beaumont, TX, United StatesChild Exploitation

East Texas man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

BEAUMONT, Texas – A man from east Texas pleaded guilty Thursday to child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Beaumont Police Department.

Jeremiah Paul Selman, 34, pleaded guilty March 21 to possessing child pornography before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Selman was indicted on child pornography violations by a federal grand jury Jan. 10.

According to court information, on Oct. 26, 2011, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Selman's residence in Port Neches, Texas. They seized a computer during the search and discovered that it contained more than 600 images of child pornography. Some of the material included prepubescent children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

"The cases investigated under Operation Predator reveal the disturbing and sobering truth that some adults will go to great lengths to sexually exploit children," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. "While we cannot give back the innocence that's been stolen from these children, we can make sure that those who commit these horrible crimes are brought to justice."

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-843-5678.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

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