Anderson County Man Guilty Of Child Pornography Violations

TYLER, Texas – A 49-year-old Palestine, Texas man has pleaded guilty to child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
 
Alvin Westley pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on Jan. 9, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 26, 2011, Westley was found in possession of child pornography.  During the investigation, it was revealed that Westley is a registered sex offender having been previously convicted of three counts of indecency with a child.  A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Oct. 23, 2013, charging Westley was child pornography violations. 
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Westley faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.