Houston area man admits to enticing teenage girl to commit sex acts

HOUSTON – A 52-year-old Spring resident has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

From Aug. 26 - Oct. 5, 2023, John Alberth exchanged messages with a 16-year-old minor victim, offering money in exchange for sex acts and explicit photos.

As part of his plea, Alberth admitted paying the minor victim through CashApp and asking her to send him photos of herself that constituted child sexual abuse material.

Law enforcement discovered text messages confirming Alberth knew the victim was a minor.

U.S. District Judge George P. Hanks will impose sentencing Jan. 30, 2026. At that time, Alberth faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department and Sherrif’s Offices in Harris and Galveston County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.