A Harlingen man has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornography, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Rico Deangelo Longoria, 47, pleaded guilty on April 1. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. considered several victim impact statements before sentencing Longoria to 121 months in federal prison and ordering him to serve 15 years of supervised release after his sentence. During the supervised release period, Longoria will face restrictions on his access to children and the internet and must register as a sex offender. He is also required to pay $60,500 in restitution to the victims.
The court highlighted the severity of the offense during sentencing. Judge Rodriguez read excerpts from victim impact statements that detailed documented abuse found in the material possessed by Longoria, which caused lasting trauma and lifelong consequences for the victims. The court noted that possessing such material contributes to their ongoing suffering.
"Viewing or possessing child pornography is not some private, harmless activity," said Ganjei. "The minor victims are repeatedly traumatized by the dissemination and viewing of the recording of the most horrific moments of their lives. This sentence sends a message that this conduct will be met forcefully in the Southern District of Texas."
Authorities discovered a computer associated with an IP address in Harlingen involved in downloading and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In February, they executed a federal search warrant at Longoria's residence and found a phone hidden inside a toilet water tank.
Forensic analysis revealed 337 images and 47 videos of CSAM on this device, including images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Longoria remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The FBI conducted the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
