LAREDO, Texas — A South Texas man pleaded responsible March 28 to sexual exploitation of a kid and possession of kid pornography following a Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) and Webb County Sheriff’s Workplace investigation.
Kristopher Santos, 29, of Laredo, pleaded responsible March 28 earlier than U.S. District Decide Diana Saldaña, who accepted his responsible plea for fees associated to baby pornography.
In accordance with courtroom paperwork, HSI recognized Kristopher Santos in 2019 when conducting a peer-to-peer undercover investigation and Santos was sharing baby pornography on-line. On April 12, 2019, legislation enforcement officers searched his dwelling with a warrant and found and seized a number of digital gadgets. Authorities additionally found a trunk stuffed with intercourse toys and youngsters’s underwear. Santos acknowledged he was sexually drawn to youngsters, admitted to viewing the kid pornography and stated the trunk belonged to him. He additionally admitted to touching two minor kinfolk inappropriately and taking nude footage of them. Legislation enforcement in the end recognized 27,729 pictures and seven,667 movies containing baby pornography on the seized digital gadgets.
U.S. District Decide Marmolejo will sentence Santos at a later date. At the moment, Santos faces a compulsory minimal of 15 years and as much as 30 years in federal jail.
Santos stays in custody pending his sentencing listening to.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Michael Makens, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.
HSI encourages the general public to report suspected baby predators and any suspicious exercise by its toll-free tip line at 866-347-2423, or by finishing its on-line tip form. Each are staffed across the clock by investigators. From exterior america and Canada, callers ought to dial 802-872-6199. Listening to impaired customers could name TTY 802-872-6196.
HSI takes a victim-centered method to baby exploitation investigations by working to determine, rescue and stabilize victims. HSI works in partnership with the Nationwide Heart for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters (NCMEC), ICAC companions, and different federal, state, and native businesses to assist remedy instances and rescue sexually exploited youngsters. Suspected baby sexual exploitation or lacking youngsters could also be reported to NCMEC’s toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, a world alliance of legislation enforcement businesses and personal trade sector companions working collectively to stop and deter on-line baby sexual abuse.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these prison organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by which worldwide commerce, journey and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 staff consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through america, and 93 abroad places in 56 international locations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative legislation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. legislation enforcement.