Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A southeast Texas man pleaded guilty to possessing 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), with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Robert Wayne Collins, 62, of Kingsville, Texas, pleaded guilty Dec. 1 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janice B. Ellington. The court heard that authorities, while using peer-to-peer file-sharing software, were able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an Internet Protocol address that was associated with Collins.

In January, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Collin’s residence and seized various electronic devices.  A forensic analysis conducted on the devices revealed more than 90 images and about 160 videos of child pornography. Collins admitted to using the peer-to-peer software to download child pornography.

Collins was arrested on a bond revocation warrant in November and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending his sentencing.

Sentencing is set for March 10 before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. Collins faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Collins also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

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 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.