Kingsville Man Heads to Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Robert Wayne Collins, 63, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction on one count of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Collins, of Kingsville, pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2015.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Collins a sentence of 84 months. Collins was further ordered to pay a $17,500 fine five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

At the time of his plea, the court heard that authorities, while using peer-to-peer software, were able to successfully download of various files containing child pornography from an IP address that was associated with Collins.

In January 2015, agents executed a search warrant at Collin’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed more than 90 images and approximately 160 videos of child pornography. Collins admitted to using the peer-to-peer software to download child pornography.

Collins was arrested on a bond revocation warrant in November 2015 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated 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."