Feds seek public's help to identify possible child victims of accused sex offender

HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is seeking the public's help to identify possible victims of a man charged with transporting a minor for commercial sex acts.

According to HSI special agents, Jason Daniel Gandy, 37, frequently traveled to the Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio; he also traveled overseas to the Philippines and Bali, Indonesia. ICE believes there may be additional unidentified victims involved in this case. Anyone with knowledge of the man's unsupervised contact with minors should contact HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

Gandy was stopped by immigration officers in the United Kingdom during the London Olympics in 2012, after he and a boy arrived on a flight originating in Houston. According to the complaint, London officials' suspicions arose regarding a 35-year-old man traveling with an unrelated 15-year-old boy. Both individuals were returned to Houston on separate flights.

Upon return to Houston, they were met by HSI special agents. The investigation revealed that Gandy allegedly ran a massage business out of his home and was using the 15-year-old boy to give massages. The individuals paying for the massages were allegedly allowed to fondle the child during the massage, and the boy was required to sexually gratify the customers, according to evidence presented in court.

Gandy paid for the boy's trip to London and his passport fees so the boy could perform massages in London, according to the information presented in court. The investigation also revealed that Gandy molested the child on more than one occasion, and he intended to continue.

On July 25, 2012, U.S. Magistrate Judge George C. Hanks Jr. ordered Gandy to remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

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.

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.

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.