East Texas man sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography
BEAUMONT — An east Texas man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison for 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), along with the Orange and Beaumont (Texas) police departments.
Jason Ryan Bickham, 32, from Orange, Texas, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison Feb. 24 by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Bickham pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 17, 2014 after being indicted by a federal grand jury June 4.
"Child pornography is the permanent record of the sexual exploitation of a child, and this victimization continues every time that image is transmitted, downloaded, shared or viewed," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. "HSI special agents take special pride in their role of seeking justice on behalf of those who have been exploited and victimized."
According to court information, law enforcement authorities were alerted by a citizen that Bickham had images containing child pornography on his cellular phone. Bickham gave officers consent to search the phone. A forensic analysis done on the phone revealed multiple images and videos of child pornography.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke, 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 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 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.
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