Previously convicted sex offender from Southeast Texas pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Southeast Texas man, who was a previously convicted sex offender, admitted in federal court Thursday that he possessed child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, Southern District of Texas.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Adam Thomas Simington, 31, from Corpus Christi, on Nov. 9 pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.

The court heard that Simington was previously convicted in Oklahoma for possessing child pornography, and he was required to register as a sex offender. Law enforcement learned he possessed child pornography, and several digital devices were seized from Simington’s residence that resulted in discovering more than 900 images of child pornography.  

Simington faces 10 to 20 years in federal prison. He was permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing hearing, which is set for Feb. 28, 2018.

Corpus Christi Police Department assisted in this investigation.

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 16,000 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 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 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 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.