Victoria Man Heads To Prison For Possessing Child Pornography

VICTORIA, Texas – Joshua Almeida, 33, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction on one count of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Almeida pleaded guilty Monday, Dec. 2, 2013.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey took into consideration Almeida’s cooperation with the authorities and acceptance of responsibility for his crimes and handed him a sentence of 72 months. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rainey stated that Almeida and people like him who possess child pornography drive the market that leads to its creation. Almeida will also serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will be required to comply with numerous conditions of release designed to limit his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

At the time of his guilty plea, Almeida stipulated that on March 18, 2012, the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover online investigation into persons trading child pornography. A computer which ultimately traced back to Almeida was determined to be offering numerous images of child pornography for distribution. A state search warrant was executed on Almeida’s home in Victoria on Sept. 27, 2012, at which time several electronic storage devices were seized and identified as belonging to Almeida. A subsequent computer forensics search of those devices led to the discovery of numerous files containing child pornography.

Almeida was previously released on bond, but as part of his ongoing desire to accept responsibility and try to obtain the help he needs, he requested the court allow him to begin serving his sentence immediately and was taken into custody where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lance Duke, 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."