East Texas man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children

TYLER, Texas — An east Texas man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.

Robbie Newby, 46, of Grapeland, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury April 17, 2013; he pleaded guilty Jan. 9, 2014 to sexually exploiting children. Newby was sentenced April 23 to 30 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to the information provided in court, on or about March 14, 2012, Newby knowingly used and coerced a minor under the age of 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct so he could produce child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel 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.