Former Houston-area TSA agent sentenced to more than 27 years in federal prison for producing child pornography by sexually abusing a minor

HOUSTON — A North Houston-area man was sentenced Monday to more than 27 years in federal prison following his conviction for producing and distributing child pornography.

This sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, Southern District of Texas. This investigation was conducted by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Christopher Lynn Persky, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt to 327 and 240 months for the production and distribution convictions, respectively.  Both sentences will run concurrently.

Additional information was also presented on May 15, including the testimony of a victim: “They teach you as a woman to watch what you wear, to never walk alone at night, to never drink too much when you’re out,” she said. “My entire life I prepared for a stranger. I never prepared for you. You smiled and laughed, you bought me ice cream, you assaulted me.”

Persky pleaded guilty to the charges May 16, 2016.

Persky was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,500 to another identified victim. He will also serve the rest of his life on supervised release after he completes his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He must also register as a sex offender.

Persky first came to the attention of law enforcement after an individual identified online as CHRISPYTWEAK had sent images of child erotica to an undercover agent using the chat feature on a known child pornography site. That person was identified as Persky. At that time, he provided his full name and further claimed to work for Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA). He no longer works for TSA.

By pleading guilty, Persky admitted taking sexually explicit photographs and a video of a 2-year-old relative. He further emailed these images to another individual with whom he was communicating in exchange for more images of child pornography.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo, Southern 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 14,000 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 2015, nearly 2,400 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.