Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Freeport Man Sent to Prison for Three Child Pornography Convictions
GALVESTON, Texas – A 22-year-old Freeport man has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Miguel Jimenez Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 25, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge George Hanks handed Jimenez 240 and 120 months for the distribution and possession charges as well as 240 months for the receipt of child pornography. The sentences will run concurrently. Additional information was also presented today, including that besides the victims in the images and videos, Jimenez had contact with four minor females from whom he sought graphic nude images. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanks noted his obligation to protect the public and the victims. Jiminez will also be on supervised release for rest of his life following completion of 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 will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
Jimenez came to the attention of authorities after they believed he was uploading and storing child pornography into a virtual storage account. A search warrant was executed at his residence, at which time law enforcement located and seized various computers and cellular phones. Forensic analysis of the phones, computers and virtual storage accounts revealed 658 child pornography images and 634 child pornography videos. The images and videos included minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexual activity, toddlers, instances of sadism, masochism, bondage involving the penetration of the minor, as well as masturbation and the lewd and lascivious display of the children’s genitals.
Jimenez admitted he possessed, received and distributed numerous images of child pornography. Jimenez chatted with unidentified users who shared his sexual interest in children. Further, Jimenez used several different on-line applications to chat with underage girls all over the country. He had an online relationship with one minor female whom he had threatened by saying she had to continue the relationship or he would send naked pictures of her to her friends.
The forensic analysis results indicated that Jimenez searched the Internet using the phrase, “how much trouble can you be in for sending naked photos of ex.”
Jimenez has been detained since his arrest on May 5, 2016, at which time U.S. Magistrate John R. Froeschner found him to be a flight risk and danger to the community. Jimenez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Galveston Division, conducted the investigation.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”