James T. Jacks
Acting United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

MINERAL WELLS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

FORT WORTH, Texas — Peter M. Espinosa, 66, of Mineral Wells, Texas, pleaded guilty this morning before U.S. District Judge John McBryde to one count of receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Espinosa, who is presently in custody, faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five nor more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing is set for November 6, 2009.

Espinosa was arrested on May 20, 2009, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after they executed a search warrant at his home. In documents filed in court today, Espinosa admitted that he knowingly download from the Internet numerous images and videos of child pornography of children, ranging in age from eight to 14, that were engaged in posing and in sexual acts. A forensic examination of his computer and related storage media revealed more than 100 images of child pornography and more than 10 video clips of child pornography.

This case is being 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

The case is being investigated by ICE, Grapevine Police Department and Mineral Wells Police Department and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.

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