Previously convicted sex offender and a former Southeast Texas daycare worker receive 35- and 20-year prison sentences for producing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A previously convicted sex offender and a former Southeast Texas daycare worker were sentenced Tuesday to 20 and 35 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

These sentences were announced by 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), U.S. Secret Service, and the Corpus Christi Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Matthew Harbin, 30, of Brownsville, Texas, was sentenced Feb. 23 by Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head to serve 300 months for the Corpus Christi charges and another 120 months for a similar case in the Northern District of Alabama; these sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 420 months in federal prison, and will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.

Christina Cortez, 39, of Corpus Christi, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, and to 20 years of supervised release.

Both Cortez and Harbin pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 23, 2015.  After they serve their prison sentences, they must also register as sex offenders. At the hearing, the victim's mother gave a statement explaining how the crime affected her daughter and family.

The court also heard that the case began after Harbin was identified as providing images to an undercover officer in England. Using the email address dirtysickmind@yahoo.com, Harbin provided three photos of a child clothed and not sexually posed, but which appeared to be taken at a daycare facility. Harbin told the undercover officer he had more pictures and wanted to trade; he asked the undercover officer if they had a daughter, and how young they were "in to." Harbin later sent five more pictures of what appears to be the same female child, but that were sexually explicit in nature. One image depicts the child laying down on a blue mat with her dress lifted and her lower body exposed. Other images depicted an adult female's hand making contact with a child's genitals.

Further investigation revealed Harbin had previously received the images from Cortez in July 2014. In their communications, Cortez claimed to work at a daycare facility where she produced the images. Cortez admitted taking and sending the images to Harbin of the same female child involved in sexually explicit conduct. The child's genitals appear to be the focus of all three of the aforementioned images, one of which includes the child fondling herself.

In their communications, both Harbin and Cortez indicated a desire to engage with children. During one conversation, Cortez told Harbin "I would love to watch us with her. 2 & half."

The court also heard from an HSI special agent from Alabama. The special agent testified Harbin is a convicted sex offender from Alabama who fled to Brownsville following the issuance of a federal arrest warrant for possessing child pornography. In that case, Harbin admitted to trading child pornography two or three times per month with individuals online. The special agent also testified that a search of Harbin's email accounts uncovered multiple conversations with other individuals regarding the sexual abuse of children. Special agents seized various electronic devices from Harbin on which forensic analysis revealed more than 2,800 images and more than 130 videos of child pornography.

A Brownsville HSI special agent also provided testimony. The special agent explained that when Harbin was arrested in Brownsville, a search of his email accounts also uncovered multiple conversations with more individuals regarding the sexual abuse of children. A forensic analysis of Harbin's electronic devices from his Brownsville arrest revealed more than 3,500 images and more than 360 videos of child pornography.

Both Cortez and Harbin have remained in custody since their arrest and will remain there 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.