New Mexico man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child pornography conviction

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — A New Mexico man was sentenced Monday to 20 years in federal prison for his conviction on federal child pornography charges.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case.

Erik Bilal Khan, 36, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was also ordered to lifetime supervised release, and he must register as a sex offender after completing his sentence.

Also, Khan was ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution to the victims of his criminal conduct, and will forfeit 66 computers, computer-related media, cellular telephones, cameras and other electronic media seized from his residence during the investigation.

Khan pleaded guilty in November 2013 to a four-count superseding indictment charging him with receiving, possessing and distributing child pornography, and attempting to produce child pornography.

Khan’s guilty plea was entered under a plea agreement that permitted Khan to appeal a court order denying Khan’s motion to suppress evidence seized from his residence pursuant to a search warrant. Before his sentencing hearing Monday, Khan entered a new guilty plea to the four-count superseding indictment under an amended plea agreement that required Khan to waive his right to appeal any aspect of the case, including the order denying his motion to suppress evidence.

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.