CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 22-year-old resident of Corpus Christi has been ordered to federal prison for more than 15 years following his conviction for distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Rogelio Jesus Martinez, 22, pleaded guilty March 3, 2014.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack sentenced Martinez to 188 months in federal prison. He will also spend the rest of his life on supervised release and will be ordered to register as a sex offender.
In February 2013, authorities with the Corpus Christi Police Department, while using peer-to-peer software, were able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an IP address that was associated with Martinez. As a result of this information, Homeland Security Investigations was contacted to assist in the investigation.
In March 2013, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Martinez’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed 21 videos and on image of child pornography. The material depicted prepubescent children including infants. Martinez admitted to downloading and sharing child pornography through a file sharing program on his computer.
Martinez was ordered into custody and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The charges against Martinez were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations 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."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
