Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A man from Alvin, Texas, has pleaded guilty to charges related to child pornography. Franklin Joseph Perkins, 41, admitted guilt as his trial was about to commence. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the plea.
Perkins previously worked at Kuk Sool Won martial arts studio and Gulf Coast Gymnastics in Alvin. The investigation revealed that a Google account linked to Perkins had uploaded files suspected of containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Authorities determined that Perkins used various Google accounts and his cell phone for receiving and possessing such material.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for April 15. Perkins faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years for receiving CSAM, with an additional potential sentence of up to 10 years for possession. He may also face fines up to $250,000, a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Trafficking Act, a maximum $35,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act, and mandatory restitution of no less than $3,000 per victim.
Perkins will remain in custody until sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations in collaboration with Pearland Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo, Carrie Wirsing, and Colton Turner are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
