Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to 3 child pornography charges

GALVESTON, Texas — A 21-year-old Southeast Texas man has been convicted of distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted this investigation.

Miguel Jimenez Jr., from Freeport, Texas, came to the attention of authorities after they believed he was uploading and storing child pornography into a virtual storage account. A search warrant was executed at his residence, at which time law enforcement located and seized various computers and cellphones. Forensic analysis of the phones, computers and virtual storage accounts revealed 658 child pornography images and 634 child pornography videos. The images and videos included minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexual activity, instances of sadism, masochism, bondage involving the penetration of a minor, as well as masturbation and the lewd and lascivious display of children’s genitals.

On Jan. 25, Jimenez admitted he possessed, received and distributed numerous images child pornography. Jimenez chatted with unidentified users who shared his sexual interest in children. Further, Jimenez used several different online applications to chat with underage girls throughout the country. He had an online relationship with one minor female whom he had threatened by saying she had to continue the relationship or he would send naked pictures of her to her friends.

The forensic analysis results indicated that Jimenez searched the internet using the phrase, “how much trouble can you be in for sending naked photos of ex.”

Jimenez has been detained since his arrest on May 5, 2016, at which time U.S. Magistrate John R. Froeschner found him to be a flight risk and a danger to the community.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks accepted the plea and set Jimenez’s sentencing for May 17, 2017. For distributing and receiving child pornography, Jimenez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five and up to 20 years in federal prison. He also faces another maximum term of 10 years for the possession conviction. All charges are also punishable by a $250,000 maximum possible fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, the court could also impose any number of years up to a life term of supervised release; he will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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 14,000 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 2015, nearly 2,400 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.