Webster Man Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Videos

HOUSTON – A 31-year old resident of Webster has entered a guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.

Jake Nicholas Luera came to the attention of law enforcement following an investigation dubbed Operation Back to School in August 2015 which targeted the online solicitation of minors. During the operation, Luera engaged in online chats with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female and drove to a location where he believed he would make sexual contact with her.

Following his arrest, authorities searched his home in Webster. They discovered and seized various items of computer media which a forensic analysis revealed more than 4,000 images and 75 videos of child pornography involving young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. These videos included children under the age of 12 involved in sadistic conduct, including bondage.

During his plea today, Luera admitted he received and saved the images and videos on multiple storage devices.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner has set sentencing for Sept. 20, 2017. At that time, Luera faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation at Pearland Police Department in conjunction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, 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."