ICE investigation leads to child pornography charges for Texas man

BEAUMONT, Texas — A local man pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography Tuesday, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Beaumont Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Charles Wilburn Odom, 47, pleaded guilty Aug. 7 to possession of child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Odom was indicted by a federal grand jury May 16.

According to court documents, on Oct. 28, 2010, HSI special agents conducted a search warrant at Odom's residence in Beaumont. Several computers and digital storage media seized during the search revealed 140 videos and more than 79 images of child pornography. Some of the material would be considered sadistic or masochistic and depicted prepubescent children under the age of 12.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice, Eastern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE 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, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.