Southeast Texas firefighter arrested, charged with producing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A southeast Texas firefighter was arrested Thursday following the return of an indictment alleging he produced child pornography, announced 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), and the Corpus Christi Police Department.

Justin Ryan Serna, 28, of Corpus Christi, was taken into custody July 23 and is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janice Ellington the same day.

The indictment, returned Wednesday, alleges authorities discovered electronic images on a notebook computer of a juvenile female engaged in a sex act. After further investigation, law enforcement learned Serna allegedly enticed the juvenile female to engage in the sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the sex act, according to the indictment.

If convicted, Serna faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison as well as possible $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, Southern 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 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.