United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

LUBBOCK, Texas — Oscar Joel Martinez, of San Angelo, Texas, pled guilty today to one count of interstate receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Martinez, 53, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings who ordered a pre-sentence investigation with sentencing to be scheduled after that investigation is completed. Martinez, who has been on bond since his surrender to federal authorities in September, faces a statutory maximum sentence of not less than five years nor more than 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

A federal grand jury in Lubbock returned a six-count indictment in September charging Martinez with five counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. In documents filed in Court, Martinez admitted that he collected and traded images and videos of child pornography, using his computer to access the Internet and conduct the transactions. He used “peer-to-peer” file-sharing software to conduct searches and to obtain images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults, and was aware that it was illegal to do so. On July 3, 2007, when agents executed a search warrant at his residence in San Angelo, Martinez had hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on his computer.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the United States Secret Service, Lubbock Resident Agency, the Longview, Texas, Police Department, the San Angelo, Texas, Police Department, and the San Angelo Assistant Special Agent in Charge Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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