HSI Galveston seeking potential child exploitation victims in Southeast Texas
GALVESTON, Texas – A former martial arts and gymnastics instructor who previously worked at the Kuk Sool Won Dojo and Gulf Coast Gymnastics in Alvin, Texas, has been charged with multiple child pornography-related crimes following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Galveston.
Franklin Joseph Perkins, a 40-year-old resident of Alvin, was indicted Nov. 15 by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas charging him with the transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography.
According to information presented in court, the investigation began when law enforcement learned of suspected child sexual abuse materials being uploaded using an online account that Perkins allegedly controlled. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his residence, which revealed child sexual abuse materials stored in a Google Drive account associated with Perkins, according to the testimony and evidence presented during the hearing. Law enforcement also allegedly discovered non-pornographic images of what appears to be underage minors in gymnastics clothing and screenshots that depict young girls’ social media accounts.
During the course of the investigation, two women who are now adults came forward to report allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate contact when they were still minors and Perkins was their gymnastics instructor in Alvin.
Law enforcement believes there may be additional victims and is asking for the public’s help to identify them. Victims or anyone else with information about individuals who may have been exploited by Perkins are encouraged to report it to HSI Galveston at (409) 443-0103.
“Identifying victims of child sexual exploitation not only helps law enforcement investigate and convict the individuals responsible for the abuse; it also helps to connect the victims and their families with the services they need to recover,” said Mark Dawson, special agent in charge for HSI Houston. “HSI has dedicated full-time victim assistant specialists who work closely with child sexual exploitation victims to connect them with the medical treatment, counseling and other services that they might need following sexual abuse. We know this process can be extremely difficult for victims and our specialists make every effort to sensitively respond to the unique needs of child victims and provide a trauma-informed environment conducive to recovery.”
“We entrust our children to the care of instructors, coaches and other authority figures,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “We cannot and will not take these kinds of allegations lightly, but we also need your help. Our goal is not only to secure justice but to also make sure any and all possible victims have their voices heard. If you or anyone you know has been in contact with Franklin Perkins and have knowledge any potential crime, please come forward.”
Perkins was ordered into federal custody pending further criminal proceedings after the court found him to be a danger to the community.
If convicted, Perkins faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison, for the transportation and receipt charges and up to 10 for possessing child pornography. All counts also carry a potential fine of $250,000 as well as a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Trafficking Act, a maximum of a $35,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act and mandatory restitution in an amount of no less than $3,000 per victim.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner is prosecuting the case.
Suspected victims of child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by calling its toll-free 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.
For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to aggressively investigate child exploitation and child pornography in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @HSIHouston.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
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