Convicted sex offender from North Texas sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

DALLAS — A previously convicted North Texas sex offender was sentenced Thursday to 60 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Irving Police Department investigated this case.

According to documents filed in the case and information presented in court, the investigation began when a 13-year-old girl, Jane Doe, came forward and said she had been molested. Shannon Buck, 43, from Irving, Texas, admitted that he used Jane Doe to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and then used his camera to record that conduct. In addition, Buck admitted that in February 2010, he pleaded guilty in the 195th District Court of Dallas County to two felony offenses for possessing child pornography; he was sentenced to an eight-year period of deferred adjudication. Buck was on probation at the time of this latest offense. Four victims were identified; two were videotaped by Buck.

In January 2015, Buck pleaded guilty to an indictment charging one count of producing child pornography and one count of enhanced penalties for registered sex offenders.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

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-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.