Guatemalan living in east Texas pleads guilty to producing child pornography
BEAUMONT, Texas — A Guatemalan man living in Beaumont pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas.
This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Beaumont Police Department.
Cesar Estuardo Hernandez-Cruz, 28, pleaded guilty Aug. 4 to producing child pornography before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Hernandez-Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury June 3.
According to court information, on Dec. 4, 2014, law enforcement officers were notified by a parent that sexually explicit photographs of their child had been discovered. The photographs had been taken by the child on a cellphone and had been sent by text message to Hernandez-Cruz at his request. Hernandez-Cruz admitted knowing the child was only 12 years old.
“Child pornography is the permanent record of the sexual exploitation of a child, and this victimization continues every time that image is transmitted, downloaded, shared or viewed,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “HSI special agents take special pride in their role of seeking justice on behalf of children who have been sexually exploited and victimized.”
Hernandez-Cruz faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
Assistant U.S. Randall L. Fluke, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting 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 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. 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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