East Texas man faces a mandatory life term in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography

BEAUMONT, Texas — A registered sex offender from East Texas faces a mandatory life term in federal prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to producing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Jefferson County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Galveston Police Department.

Jose Stephen Gracia, 45, from Galveston, Texas, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography July 27 before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Gracia was indicted by a federal grand jury May 7.

According to information presented in court April 2, federal agents executed a search warrant at Gracia’s residence in Galveston based on information that child pornography was being distributed from that location. During the search, investigators located a digital memory card in a locked safe that contained videos of Gracia and his victims. In these videos, Gracia, a registered sex offender, was engaged in sexual activity with the children. Further investigation revealed the videos were originally produced in Jefferson County, Texas.

A sentencing date for Gracia has not been set.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Bartow, Eastern 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 12,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 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.

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.