San Antonio Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Of A Minor

Pelly Lee Mason, age 51, faces not less than thirty years and up to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.    

Mason came to the attention of law enforcement after a victim’s parent reported that Mason had performed sexual acts on her minor child.  The sexual acts had occurred on several occasions during a trip from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Orlando, Florida.  Some of the acts occurred while they were in San Antonio, Texas.  Mason admitted to having performed sexual acts on the minor child during this trip.  Mason has previously been convicted of engaging in lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor for which he served five years in prison.  As a result of that conviction, Mason was required to register as a sex offender but failed to register upon his release from prison.  Seven other victims have been identified since his arrest early this year.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Assistant United States Attorney Bettina Richardson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.