Texas man sentenced to 15 years in prison for producing child pornography

LUBBOCK, Texas — A west Texas man was sentenced in federal court Friday to 15 years in prison for making child pornography.

This sentence is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lubbock County (Texas) Sheriff's Office.

Dale Wray Fulford, 77, of Slaton, Texas, was sentenced June 27 to 15 years in federal prison following his guilty plea in March 2014 to one count of production of child pornography.

Fulford admitted that between February 2013 and early February 2014, he used, persuaded, induced and enticed a female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct that he recorded on a digital camera.

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 producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.