Press Release
Friendswood Man Convicted Of Receipt And Possession Of Child Pornography
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
GALVESTON, Texas - Miguel Angel Macias, 53, formerly of Friendswood, has entered a guilty plea to receipt and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
The investigation into Macias began as a result of an investigation into a website and message board by investigators in San Diego, Calif. During that investigation, a computer was traced to Macias and identified as accessing the message board and downloading images of child pornography.
A search warrant was conducted at his Friendswood home. At that time, officers seized a laptop computer, a number of CDs and several external hard drives which were found to contain more than 2,000 images and more than 100 videos containing child pornography.
Macias admitted to downloading and viewing child pornography.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gregg Costa, sitting by designation, has set sentencing for Oct. 7, 2014. At that time, Macias faces at least five and up to 20 years on the receipt charges and up to 10 years imprisonment for possession of child pornography. Both convictions also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Macias also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The charges against Macias were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Friendswood Police Department and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Stabe, as 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."
Updated April 30, 2015
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