ICE special agents arrest local man on child pornography charges

EL PASO, Texas - A 55-year-old local man was arrested May 2 on child pornography charges following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

ICE HSI special agents arrested Homer Lee Tims, whom a federal grand jury on April 27, 2011, indicted for receiving, possessing and distributing suspected child pornography. Tims turned himself in to HSI special agents assigned to the Cyber Crimes Group at the HSI office at 4191 N. Mesa St.

On March 23, HSI special agents assisted by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) deputies executed a search warrant at Tims' residence in the 4900 block of Titanic Avenue. A forensic examination of the seized items revealed 65 videos and 48 digital still photos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Tims is charged with receiving/distributing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors and possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. If convicted, Tims faces a maximum sentence of more than five years in federal prison.

"HSI special agents assigned to the Cyber Crimes Group will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to target individuals who exploit children for their own sexual gratification," said Manuel Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in El Paso. "Internet pornographers may try, but they can't hide. We will find them and ensure they feel the full weight of the law."

This case is part of ICE's Operation Predator.

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. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.