Corpus Christi Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 36-year-old Corpus Christi man has been taken into custody on allegations he distributed child pornography on at least two occasions, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities arrested David Medina this morning upon the filing of a criminal complaint. He is expected to make his initial appearance before B. Janice Ellington at 2:00 p.m. today.

According to the charges, the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force conducted an investigation on a file sharing network looking for potential offenders sharing child pornography in September 2016. An officer was eventually able to download many images of child pornography from a computer and a specific IP address allegedly linked to Medina in Corpus Christi. Agents obtained a search warrant for Medina’s residence, after which agents seized several digital devices that led to the discovery of more than 3,500 images and 28 videos of child pornography, according to the charges.  

Another investigation in 2017 led authorities to a different computer sharing child pornography which was traced to a second residence in Corpus Christi allegedly linked to Medina. He cellular phone was seized and allegedly found to contain more than 1,000 images and 95 videos of child pornography.

The criminal complaint further indicates that on Feb. 21, 2018, authorities received information that someone was downloading child pornography at a hotel in Corpus Christi. Agents found that Medina was renting a room at that location and seized his laptop as part of the investigation.

If convicted, Medina faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine, if convicted.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting 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."

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.