El Paso man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography
EL PASO, Texas — An El Paso man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Thursday for receiving and distributing child pornography.
This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Victor Jerome Reza, 54, was also ordered to be placed on supervised release for 10 years after he completes his prison term, register as a sex offender, and pay a $1,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Philip R. Martinez also ordered Reza surrender to federal authorities before July 20 to begin serving his prison term.
According to court records, HSI’s El Paso Cyber Crimes Group executed a search warrant at Reza’s residence Aug. 5, 2014. Evidence gathered during that search included his laptop and desktop computers as well as an assortment of computer-related media. A subsequent search of the seized material revealed the presence of 277 videos and 2,910 images depicting minors being sexually exploited which were downloaded from the Internet.
On Feb. 26, 2015, Reza pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography.
“One of HSI’s highest priorities is to identify, arrest and ensure individuals guilty of such heinous crimes are removed from our community to protect our children,” said Waldemar Rodriguez, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI will use all its resources and ample investigative authorities to target child predators.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rifian Newaz, Western 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 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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