US Marine Corps officer pleads guilty in southeast Texas to possessing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An active-duty U.S. Marine Corps officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing child pornography.

This guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation with the assistance of Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Corpus Christi Police Department’s (CCPD) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Jason Michael Ehret, 44, an active-duty Marine Corps major serving as an aviation flight instructor, pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 15.

The court heard that CCPD detectives using peer-to-peer computer software successfully downloaded various files containing child pornography from an internet protocol address associated with Ehret.

In March 2016, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Ehret’s residence and seized various electronic devices. A forensic analysis conducted on those devices revealed more than 160 images and four videos of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack accepted Ehret’s guilty plea and set sentencing for Jan. 25. At that time, Ehret faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Ehret also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit his use of the internet.

Ehret was arrested on the federal charges in September 2016 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending his sentencing.

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.