Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to soliciting a minor online

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A southeast Texas man admitted in federal court Thursday that he illegally attempted to meet and have sex with an underage girl.

This guilty plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, 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’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (CCPD-ICAC).

David Lee Vann, 35, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby and entered a guilty plea to one count of soliciting a minor online.

In June 2016, HSI and CCPD-ICAC initiated a joint investigation targeting individuals involved in online solicitation of minors. Vann was communicating with a person he believed was the mother of a 14-year-old girl. In reality, he was talking to an undercover agent.  Vann made arrangements to meet and have sex with the girl.

Vann was apprehended as he arrived at the designated meeting place, at which time he was possessed a box of condoms and lubricant.  He also admitted to authorities that he had sent messages indicating his intention to have sex with the child.  Vann also possessed a cellphone.  A forensic examination of the phone resulted in the discovery of 35 images and 20 videos of child pornography.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17 before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. At that time, Vann faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Upon completion of the prison term imposed, he 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.

Vann was arrested on the federal charges in November 2016. He remains in custody pending his sentencing.

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.