East Texas man pleads guilty to child pornography violations

TYLER, Texas — A 25-year-old east Texas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to child pornography charges, 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), the Anderson County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, and the Urbandale (Iowa) Police Department.

Joshua Quick, from Palestine, Texas, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography Oct 14 before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 14, 2013, Quick received child pornography on a computer. He had first used this computer to solicit a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct; and he persuaded the minor to produce images depicting child pornography. Quick was indicted by a federal grand jury Feb. 26.

Quick faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld, Eastern District of Texas.

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 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.