East Texas man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

BEAUMONT, Texas — A west Texas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas.

This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas police departments of Orange and Beaumont.

Jason Ryan Bickham, 32, of Orange, Texas, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography Sept. 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.

According to court information, a citizen alerted law enforcement authorities that Bickham had child pornography images on his cellphone. Bickham gave officers consent to search his phone. A forensic analysis of Bickham's phone revealed multiple images and videos of child pornography. Bickham was indicted by a federal grand jury June 4.

Bickham faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting 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 10,000 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 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.