Southeast Texas prison gang member sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Southeast Texas prison gang member was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison following his conviction for producing child pornography.

This sentence was announced by 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.

Jesus Villalobos, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Hayden Head to 300 months in prison. In handing down this sentence, Judge Head noted that Villalobos has a career of criminal activity which includes violence. Villalobos was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim, serve 25 years of supervised release after he completes 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 must also register as a sex offender. Villalobos pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 27, admitting that he enticed an 11-year-old victim into sending him sexually explicit photographs.

An HSI special agent provided court testimony stating that Villalobos is a documented member of the Texas Syndicate prison gang. The special agent also testified that cellphone data showed Villalobos made arrangements to meet the victim, and he traveled to a park near the victim’s house for that purpose.

In February 2016, authorities learned Villalobos had been communicating via cellphone text messages and social media apps with an 11-year-old girl. During those communications, Villalobos enticed the victim into sending him sexually explicit photographs of herself.

In April 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Villalobos residence and seized various electronic devices. A forensic analysis of those devices led to the discovery of several photographs of the child that were sexually explicit in nature.

Villalobos 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, 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 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.