Southeast Texas man sentenced to almost 20 years in prison for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography

GALVESTON, Texas – A Southeast Texas man was sentenced Thursday to almost 20 years in prison following his conviction of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography,

The sentence was announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation.

Richard Wayne Barton, 51, of Dickinson was sentenced July 21 by U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. to 235 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay restitution to known victims. Judge Hanks took into consideration the fact that Barton created and administered a social media website where child pornography was made available, including images containing bondage, bestiality and children under the age of 12 engaged in sex acts. He was further ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Barton pleaded guilty Feb. 8.

This case was initiated based on a cyber-tip from a web domain hosting company. The investigation revealed Barton was making child pornography available to others through the website he created and administered. HSI special agents executed a search warrant Feb. 19, 2015, at which time agents seized computer media including external hard drives which led to the discovery of more than 16,500 digital images and approximately 1,100 videos containing minors engaged in sexual activity.

A grand jury indicted Barton Sept. 17, 2015. He later appeared for a detention hearing and was found to be a danger to the community and ordered into custody. He has been and will remain there pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the 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.