Cypress Man Convicted Of Distributing Child Pornography

HOUSTON - Jimmy Ortiz, 33, of Cypress, has entered a guilty plea to one count of distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Indicted Jan. 30, 2014, Ortiz later appeared for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge George C. Hanks Jr. who found Ortiz to be a danger to the community and ordered he be detained.

The investigation revealed Ortiz was making child pornography available to others through the use of peer-to-peer software over the Internet. An FBI agent downloaded a video of child pornography from the files Ortiz was making available online. The video included two minor female children under the age of 12 performing oral sex on each other. Additionally, a FBI agent in Oklahoma also downloaded videos that contained child pornography from Ortiz. 

A search warrant was executed Sept. 27, 2013. At that time, agents seized computer media including external hard drives which led to the discovery of more than 1500 digital images and approximately 49 videos containing child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison, who accepted the plea today, has set sentencing for Nov. 12, 2014. At that time, Ortiz faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years imprisonment as well as a possible $250,000 fine. He will also face a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children. He will also have to register as a sex offender. 

These charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Innocent Images Task Force. 
           
This case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri L. 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."