Southeast Texas man sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Corpus Christi man was sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison following his conviction for distributing 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.

Rogelio Jesus Martinez, 22, was sentenced to 188 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack.  Martinez will also spend the rest of his life on supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Martinez pleaded guilty March 3, 2014.

In February 2013, authorities with the Corpus Christi Police Department, while using peer-to-peer software, were able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an Internet Protocol address that was associated with Martinez. As a result of this information, HSI was contacted to assist in the investigation.

In March 2013, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Martinez’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. A forensic analysis done on these electronic devices revealed 21 videos and one image of child pornography. The material depicted prepubescent children including infants. Martinez admitted to downloading and sharing child pornography through a file-sharing program on his computer.

Martinez was ordered into custody and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

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.