West Texas man sentenced to 10 years for attempting to entice a minor

LAREDO, Texas — A West Texas man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor.

This sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, Southern District of Texas.  This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), Laredo Police Department and Webb County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office.

Chad Michael Bennett, 42, from Odessa, Texas, was sentenced April 19 by visiting U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison to 120 months in federal prison. This sentence will be immediately followed by 20 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. In addition, the court ordered Bennett to register as a sex offender. Bennett pleaded guilty to the charges March 3, 2016.

According to court documents, from Dec. 14, 2015, to Dec. 30, 2015, Bennett communicated through cellphone calls, text messages, emails and online chats detailing his intended plans to engage in sexual acts with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He had placed a Craigslist ad to which an undercover agent responded, claiming to be the mother of the girl and offering her for sexual activity. On Dec. 30, 2015, Bennett flew from Odessa to Laredo for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with the girl. He was taken into custody upon his arrival. At the time of his arrest, Bennett possessed numerous images of child pornography.

During the investigation, HSI learned that Bennett was a former California police officer working first for the San Diego Police Department, and then with the Murrieta Police Department.

Bennett 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, José Angel Flores Jr., 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.