Mexican man sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Mexican man residing in Aransas Pass, Texas, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison following his conviction for possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.
This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Jose Fernando Cardenas-Lira, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Hayden Head to 84 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Head stated that, “children deserve to be provided protection of the law and this sentence is intended to do just that.” Cardenas-Lira pleaded guilty to the charges in May.
Cardenas-Lira came to the attention of law enforcement after agents used peer-to-peer software to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an Internet Protocol address that was associated with Cardenas-Lira. HSI special agents initiated surveillance on his residence and followed him to the North Beach area in Corpus Christi.
Agents watched as Cardenas-Lira sat inside his vehicle for more than three hours appearing to be watching families on and around the beach. On several occasions, Cardenas-Lira raised a camera and appeared to be photographing children and families.
In August 2013, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at his residence, where various electronic devices were seized. A forensic analysis conducted on those devices revealed more than 90 videos of child pornography.
“Child pornography is the permanent record of the sexual exploitation of a child and the victimization continues every time that image is transmitted, downloaded, shared or viewed,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “HSI special agents take pride in their role of seeking justice on behalf of those who have been exploited and victimized.”
Cardenas-Lira will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
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 12,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 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. HSI is a founding member and current chair 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.
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