US Marine Corps pilot sentenced to more than 7 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A U.S. Marine Corps flight instructor was sentenced Wednesday to more than seven years in federal prison for possessing 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 Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Jason Michael Ehret, 44, an active-duty officer serving as an aviation flight instructor, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Janis Graham. Ehret was further ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.  He must also serve the rest of his life on supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Ehret pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 15, 2016.

At the time of his guilty plea, the court heard that authorities used peer-to-peer software and were able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an internet protocol address that was associated with Ehret.

In March 2016, agents executed a search warrant at Ehret’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed more than 180 images and four videos of child pornography.  Authorities also discovered more than 570 images of child erotica.

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