Corpus Christi Gang Member Sentenced for Producing Child Pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old Corpus Christi man has been handed a significant sentence following his conviction of production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Jesus Villalobos pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2016, admitting he enticed an 11-year-old victim into sending him sexually explicit photographs.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head ordered Villalobos to serve 300 months in prison. In handing down the sentence, Judge Head noted that the defendant has a career of criminal activity which includes violence. Additional information was also presented today including the testimony of an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) who stated that Villalobos is a documented member of the Texas Syndicate prison gang. The agent also testified that cellular telephone data showed Villalobos made arrangements to attempt to meet the victim and traveled to a park near the victim’s house for that purpose. Villalobos was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim and will serve 25 years of supervised release following completion of her prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In February 2016, authorities learned Villalobos had been communicating via cellular telephone text messages and a social media application with an 11-year-old female. During those communications, Villalobos enticed the victim into sending him sexually explicit photographs of herself. 

In April 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Villalobos residence and seized various electronic devices. A forensic analysis on those devices led to the discovery of several photographs of the child that were sexually explicit in nature.

Villalobos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, 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."