Brownsville Man Gets 20 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 26-year-old Brownsville resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Manuel Teodoro Perez pleaded guilty Feb. 14, 2018.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen sentenced Perez to 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard that Perez molested a four-year-old child on at least five separate occasions. In one instance, Perez molested the child while another younger child was present in the room. The court also heard that Perez was in possession of 628 images and 57 videos of child pornography at the time of his arrest.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanen noted the nature and circumstances of the offense as the justification for the 20-year sentence. Perez will also serve 20 years on supervised release following the sentence, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Perez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In April 2017, the Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force initiated an investigation into an email address associated with the distribution and downloading of child pornography through the use of internet applications. Perez was ultimately located at his residence in Brownsville and was found to be the possessor of the email address. Further investigation revealed Perez was in possession of numerous images and videos of child pornography – 628 images and 57 videos in total.

During the forensic analysis of the digital storage device Perez was utilizing to store his child pornography collection, law enforcement discovered a video of Perez sexually assaulting a four-year-old minor child. Further investigation revealed Perez had sexually assaulted the minor child on five separate occasions.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Corley and Ana Cano prosecuted the case, which 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."