Southeast Texas man arrested for allegedly coercing a minor

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Southeast Texas man was arrested Friday on charges of coercing or enticing a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

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

Calvin Nesmith, 28, of Rockport, was arrested Sept. 4 upon filing of the criminal complaint. He is expected to make his initial appearance the same day before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington.

The criminal complaint alleges Nesmith was communicating with a person he believed was the mother of two girls. In reality, he was actually talking to an undercover HSI special agent from Laredo. During the course of the communications, Nesmith allegedly made arrangements to meet and engage in sexual activity with the mother’s minor daughters. The complaint further alleges Nesmith also sent sexually explicit photographs depicting images of child pornography through text messages and emails to the undercover agent.

He was apprehended Sept. 4 as he arrived at the designated meeting place. At the time of his arrest, the complaint alleges he had several electronic devices and condoms with him.

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. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.