Southeast Texas daycare worker arrested for allegedly producing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A local Southeast Texas woman was taken into custody Wednesday after a criminal complaint was filed against her alleging she produced and distributed child pornography.

This arrest was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Brownsville and Corpus Christi, and the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The complaint alleges Christina Cortez, 38, produced graphic child pornography images while working at a daycare facility in Corpus Christi, and that she further distributed them to Matthew Harbin, 29, of Brownsville. Harbin is also charged in the complaint. Harbin is currently in state custody on related charges.  He is expected to be transferred to federal custody and make his initial appearance in the near future. Cortez is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason Libby in Corpus Christi Aug. 5.

According to the criminal complaint, the case began after Harbin was identified as providing images to an undercover officer in England. Using the email address dirtysickmind@yahoo.com, Harbin allegedly first provided three photos of a child clothed and not sexually posed that appeared to be taken at a daycare facility. The complaint alleges that he stated he had more pictures, wanted to trade and asked the person if they had a daughter and how young they were “in to.” Harbin later allegedly 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 lying down on a blue mat with her dress lifted and her lower body exposed, according to the charges. Other images allegedly depict 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, according to the complaint. In their communications, Cortez claimed to work at a daycare facility where she allegedly obtained the images. Cortez allegedly sent images 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, according to the complaint, one of which includes the child fondling herself.

In their communications, both Harbin and Cortez allegedly indicate a desire to engage with children. During one conversation, the complaint alleges Cortez told Harbin “I would love to watch us with her. 2 & half.”

If convicted of the production charges, both face a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison; convictions for distributing child pornography carry a minimum of five and up to 20 years of imprisonment.

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 12,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 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. 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.