Houston-area man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting a child, distributing and possessing child pornography

HOUSTON — A Houston-area man entered a guilty plea Wednesday to charges of sexually exploiting a child, and distributing and possessing child pornography.

This guilty plea 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) in Houston. 

Ryan Glen Colburn, 23, of Rosenberg, Texas, first came to the attention of law enforcement after he sent images of child pornography to another individual who had been arrested on child pornography charges. HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Colburn’s residence and performed a forensic examination on his computer. This exam showed Colburn possessed more than 1,100 images and 200 videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct which included children under the age of 12, bondage and acts of violence. Some of the images are of known victims as identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Further, Colburn produced 25 images and six videos of a 2-year-old minor, which were identified as child pornography.

Special agents also executed a search warrant on Colburn’s drop-box account which contained more than 600 images and 400 videos of child pornography.

During the plea, Colburn admitted to taking sexually explicit photographs and videos of a 2-year-old minor. Colburn further admitted he traded these images with other individuals online.

U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas accepted Colburn’s guilty plea and set sentencing for July 5. At that time, Colburn faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, up to 20 years imprisonment for distribution, as well as a maximum of 10 years for possessing child pornography. All convictions on these charges also carry a maximum $250,000 fine.

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.