Southeast Texas man sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for sexually exploiting a child
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A local man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 24 years in prison following his conviction for sexually exploiting a child, 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), and Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Sylvestre Reyes Jr., 40, was sentenced April 22 to 290 months in federal prison and must also register as a sex offender. Additionally, he will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life. Reyes pleaded guilty to the charges in February.
“Sexually exploiting and abusing a child is one of the most heinous acts imaginable," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “HSI will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office and our local law enforcement partners to protect our communities from sexual predators. Simply put, we have an obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
In June 2014, law enforcement was dispatched to Driscoll Children’s Hospital regarding report of a child who was sexually assaulted. The victim was identified and confirmed the abuse. Authorities conducted a search warrant and seized the cellular telephone of both Reyes and the victim which resulted in the discovery of 42 images of a child involved in sexually explicit conduct.
Reyes has been in custody since his arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Hugo R. Martinez and Special AUSA Brittany Jensen, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted 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 10,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 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.
HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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