Former martial arts and gymnastics instructor admits to receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material

GALVESTON, Texas – A 41-year-old Alvin man has entered a guilty plea to child pornography charges as trial was set to begin, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Franklin Joseph Perkins previously worked at the Kuk Sool Won martial arts studio and Gulf Coast Gymnastics, both located in Alvin.

The investigation revealed a user with a Google account had uploaded files possibly depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) onto their servers. Law enforcement linked Perkins to that account and determined he had been using various Google accounts and his cell phone to receive and possess child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown accepted the plea and set sentencing for April 15. At that time, Perkins he faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years for receiving CSAM and up to 10 years for possessing it. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine as well as a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Trafficking Act, a maximum of a $35,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act and mandatory restitution in an amount of no less than $3,000 per victim.

He will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with Pearland Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo, Carrie Wirsing and Colton Turner are 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."