Nazi Memorabilia Collector Convicted of Possessing More than 10 Thousand Pornographic images

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 62-year-old resident of Corpus Christi has entered a guilty plea to possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Lewis Wayne Blackburn admitted in court today that he possessed more than 10 thousand images and videos containing the pornographic material.

The investigation into Blackburn began when detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (CCPD-ICAC) used peer-to-peer software to successfully download various files containing child pornography. The images were found to originate from an IP address associated with Blackburn. As a result of this information, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) furthered the investigation and ultimately executed a search warrant at Blackburn’s residence in June 2015.

At the time of the search, authorities seized various electronic devices, on which forensic analysis ultimately revealed more than 9,900 images and more than 200 videos of child pornography. Blackburn admitted to using the peer-to-peer software to download the child pornography. The court also heard today that at the time of the search authorities noted Blackburn’s entire residence was covered in Nazi memorabilia and he possessed a fully-automatic WWII era .30 Caliber M2 Carbine gun.

Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head accepted the guilty plea today and set sentencing for Nov. 4, 2015. At that time, Blackburn faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Blackburn also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect and prohibit the use of the Internet.

HSI and CCPD-ICAC investigated the matter.

The 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."