Corpus Christi Man Convicted of Production of Child Pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 29-year-old Corpus man has entered a guilty plea to two counts of production of child pornography, otherwise known as sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Authorities identified Mark Anthony Hamauei as the perpetrator of a sexual assault of two juvenile females in July 2016.

A search warrant was executed at his residence and in his vehicle, at which time authorities seized various electronic devices. A forensic analysis on those devices led to the discovery of two videos of the young victims that were sexually explicit in nature. Law enforcement also located more than 1,400 images and 230 videos of child pornography.

U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington accepted the guilty plea today. Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos on May 3, 2017. At that time, Hamauei faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $250,00 maximum fine on each count. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Hamauei also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

Hamauei was arrested on federal charges in October 2016 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending his sentencing hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations 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."