United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

LAMESA, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSE

LUBBOCK, Texas — Justin Joe Casarez, 22, of Lamesa, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to one count of receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Casarez faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Cummings ordered a presentence report with sentencing to be scheduled after the completion of that report. Casarez remains on personal recognizance bond.

According to documents filed in the case, Casarez admitted using Limewire, a “peer-to-peer” file-sharing program on his computer, to download and save numerous images 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

###