Southeast Texas man indicted for distributing, possessing child pornography

GALVESTON, Texas - An indictment charging a southeast Texas man with possessing and distributing child pornography was unsealed following his appearance before U.S. Magistrate John R. Froeschner on Wednesday. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A federal grand jury in Houston returned a four-count indictment on May 18 charging Larry James Kramer, 38, with three counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Kramer was taken into custody by ICE HSI special agents on June 1 after he surrendered to authorities. Judge Froeschner ordered Kramer released on a $30,000 bond pending trial on the charges with several special conditions, including: home confinement, no access to the Internet, and no contact with children.

Kramer is accused of distributing child pornography images on March 09, 2009 and Dec. 14-15, 2009; and possessing child pornography on Jan. 21, 2010 on a home computer and other storage devices.

Kramer faces no less than five years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment if convicted of distributing child pornography. Possessing child pornography carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment. All four charges are also punishable by maximum fines of $250,000 each upon conviction. Additionally, each offense carries a maximum life term of supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children. A conviction on any of the charges mandates registration as a sex offender.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Demetrius Bivins, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.