BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 34-year-old Mexican citizen has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Gustavo Eduardo Diaz-Vasquez pleaded guilty Oct. 2, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered him to serve 72 months in federal prison. Diaz-Vasquez was further ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution to six known victims and will serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. At the hearing, the court read excerpts of several victim impact statements detailing how this is clearly not a victimless crime.
On or about Feb. 10, 2018, Diaz-Vasquez was attempting to enter the United States through the Veteran’s Port of Entry in Brownsville when authorities conducted a search of his cell phone. At that time, they discovered Diaz-Vasquez was in possession of child pornography on his cell phone.
A forensic analysis later revealed approximately 142 images and 346 videos of child pornography.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Corley and Ana C. Cano are prosecuting the case which 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
