Fresno-area man sentenced to 8 years in prison for distributing child pornography
FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno-area man was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for distributing child pornography, following a probe by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Ernest Garza Reyes, 32, of Madera, appeared before U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii. According to court documents, from July 2, 2011, through Dec. 1, 2011, Reyes sent and received over 200 email messages containing more than 2,800 images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images also involved the portrayal of sadistic and masochistic violence, and included depictions of prepubescent minors. Reyes was charged with receiving or distributing child pornography on May 9, 2013, and pleaded guilty to this charge on Sept. 8, 2014.
"Today's sentencing is another victory in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children," said Ray Greenlee, assistant special agent in charge for HSI Sacramento. "Homeland Security Investigations works tirelessly with its law enforcement counterparts, including the Fresno County Sheriff's Department, to identify those who prey on innocent children and hold them accountable for their actions."
In addition to HSI, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office also played a prominent role in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian W. Enos prosecuted the case.
This probe was conducted under the auspices of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood and HSI's Operation Predator, two initiatives aimed at locating, arresting and prosecuting individuals who sexually exploit children and rescuing their victims.
Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 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.
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.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the "resources" tab for information about Internet safety education.
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