Victoria Man Sent To Prison For Distributing Child Porn

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Joseph Fellhauer, 64, of Victoria, has been sentenced to federal prison for distribution of child pornography, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. He pleaded guilty Oct. 29, 2012.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Fellhauer a sentence of 120 months to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Additional information was also presented today, including the defendant’s age and health. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to deter future criminal conduct and protect the public. Fellhauer will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

At the time of his guilty plea, Fellhauer admitted to the government’s rendition of facts concerning the offense. Fellhauer came to the attention of law enforcement when a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) undercover agent downloaded several items of child pornography from a computer that was linked to Fellhauer in October 2010 and April 2011. HSI contacted the Corpus Christi Police Department’s (CCPD) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and enlisted their assistance in a joint investigation of the unlawful activity. 

On Oct. 6, 2010, an HSI agent downloaded several images of child pornography from an individual later identified as Fellhauer. A federal search warrant was executed by HSI agents and CCPD officers on Fellhauer’s residence in Victoria on April 12, 2011, at which time several electronic media storage devices were seized. Fellhauer, who lived alone and away from children, was not arrested at the time.

A subsequent forensic review of Fellhauer’s media devices by CCPD computer forensics experts revealed more than 12,000 images and 350 videos of child pornography, resulting in a protracted time consuming analysis. Fellhauer was arrested pursuant to a federal criminal indictment in January 2012. At the time of his arrest, Fellhauer was actively downloading child pornography. Fellhauer admitted to acquiring child pornography from the Internet and to having an interest in child pornography for more than 15 years. 

Fellhauer has been in custody since his January 2012 arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lance Duke, 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."