Smith County Sex Offender Sentenced for Transporting Minors for Prostitution

TYLER, Texas – A 33-year-old Tyler, Texas registered sex offender has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Anthony Nelson pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2014, to transportation of minors and was sentenced to 276 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to information presented in court, in November and December of 2013, Nelson was assisted by others in transporting individuals, including two minors, in interstate commerce with the intent that the individuals engage in prostitution.  During the investigation it was also revealed that Nelson was a registered sex offender having served eight years in the Texas Department of Corrections for the 2001 aggravated sexual assault of a minor in Smith County, Texas.  Nelson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 26, 2014, and charged with child exploitation 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.

“Anthony Nelson is on his way to prison where he will serve a very long sentence of imprisonment,” said U.S. Attorney Bales.  “He deserves every day of that lengthy term and I hope that every day he is consumed with guilt and self-recrimination.  There is no more important work for the U.S. Attorney’s office than to protect and come to the aid of those who cannot protect themselves.  Nelson and his ilk will always be squarely in our sights and for that reason, I commend the work of the prosecution team for putting a stop to Nelson and his outrageous conduct.”

“Our children are our most valuable resource,” said Katrina W. Berger, special agent in charge of HSI Dallas.  “As such, our special agents from Homeland Security Investigations operate an active program called Operation Predator to rescue victims, and identify and pursue prosecution against child predators.  We routinely work with our law enforcement partners to achieve these goals.”

            This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Louisiana State Police, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police Department, Longview Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Tyler Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.