Mexican man sentenced in South Texas to 6 years in prison for possessing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Mexican national living in Corpus Christi was sentenced to six years in prison for possessing more than 1,400 images of child pornography.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation with the assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Rogelio Alfaro Carrillo, 27, was sentenced June 24 by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to 72 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. Carrillo will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 4.

During the hearing, the court heard testimony from an HSI special agent who testified that some of the images and videos depicted children as young as 4 years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

At the time of his plea, the court heard that CCPD officers, while using peer-to-peer computer software, were able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an Internet Protocol address that was associated with Carrillo.

In August 2015, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Carrillo's residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed more than 1,400 images and more than 20 videos of child pornography. Carrillo admitted having a sexual interest in children and having downloaded child pornography.

Carrillo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, 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.