United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

MINERAL WELLS MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — Peter M. Espinosa, 66, of Mineral Wells, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 97 months in prison, following his guilty plea in July to one count of receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Espinosa was also ordered to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime of supervised release.

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, Espinosa admitted that he knowingly downloaded 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 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 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 was investigated by ICE and the Grapevine and Mineral Wells Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis was in charge of the prosecution.

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