Houston-area man pleads guilty to receiving, possessing child pornography

HOUSTON — A Houston-area man entered a guilty plea Thursday to one count each of receiving and possessing child pornography.

This guilty plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, Southern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Pearland (Texas) Police Department, in conjunction with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Jake Nicholas Luera, 31, from Webster, Texas, came to the attention of law enforcement following an investigation dubbed “Operation Back to School” in August 2015 that targeted predators who solicit minors online. During the operation, Luera engaged in online chats with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female and drove to a location where he believed he would make sexual contact with her.

Following his arrest, authorities searched his home in Webster and seized various computer media. A forensic analysis of these items revealed more than 4,000 images and 75 videos of child pornography involving young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. These videos included children under the age of 12 involved in sadistic conduct, including bondage.

During his June 27 guilty plea, Luera admitted he received and saved the images and videos on multiple storage devices.

Luera’s sentencing is set for Sept. 20. At that time, Luera faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. He will remain in custody pending the hearing.

The 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 16,000 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 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 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 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.