Registered sex offender pleads guilty in east Texas to possessing child pornography

TYLER, Texas — An east Texas man, who is also a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty Friday to child pornography violations, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Investigations Division.

Alvin Westley, 49, from Palestine, Texas, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love to possessing child pornography.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 26, 2011, Westley was found possessing child pornography. During the investigation, it was revealed that Westley is a registered sex offender having been previously convicted of three counts of indecency with a child. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Oct. 23 charging Westley with child pornography violations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting 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 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.