DEL RIO, Texas — A Texas man was sentenced to jail for receipt and distribution of kid pornography following an investigation performed by Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI).
Oscar Barrera, 29, was sentenced Jan. 9 to 220 months in jail. Barrera pleaded responsible April 4, 2022, to 1 depend of distribution of kid pornography and one depend of receipt of kid pornography.
In line with court docket paperwork, Barrera mentored at-risk teenagers, labored as a tutor within the Del Rio college system, and served as a youth counselor at church retreats. On June 17, 2021, HSI performed a search warrant on Barrera’s residence and confiscated his mobile phone, which had greater than 1,100 photos and practically 700 movies of kid sexual abuse materials.
“The heavy sentence imposed on Mr. Barrera sends a transparent message that there are critical penalties for individuals who exploit youngsters in any manner,” stated Performing Particular Agent in Cost Craig Larrabee of HSI San Antonio. “HSI brokers make it a prime precedence to guard youngsters from victimization by working to research predators concerned with the manufacturing, distribution and possession of kid sexual abuse materials and guarantee they’re held accountable for his or her heinous actions. HSI will proceed to dedicate our sources to establish these people and convey them to justice.”
“It’s unsettling while you be taught that somebody working so carefully with our youngsters and in our communities can possess such predatory tendencies,” stated U.S. Lawyer Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Because of our federal company companions like Homeland Safety Investigations, we’re in a position to make sure these sexual abusers can now not prey on our youngsters.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rex Beasley and Tyler Fleming, Western District of Texas, prosecuted the case.
HSI encourages the general public to report suspected little one 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. From exterior the US and Canada, callers ought to dial 802-872-6199. Listening to impaired customers could name TTY 802-872-6196.
HSI takes a victim-centered strategy to little one exploitation investigations by working to establish, rescue and stabilize victims. HSI works in partnership with the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters (NCMEC), Web Crimes Towards Youngsters companions, and different federal, state, and native businesses to assist clear up instances and rescue sexually exploited youngsters. You possibly can report suspected little one sexual exploitation or lacking youngsters to NCMEC’s toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 800-843-5678.
HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, a global alliance of regulation enforcement businesses and personal business sector companions working collectively to forestall and deter on-line little one sexual abuse.
Certainly one of HSI’s prime priorities is to guard the general public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s little one exploitation investigations program is a central element of this mission set. Additional, HSI is acknowledged as a world chief on this investigative self-discipline. The directorate is dedicated to using its huge authorities, worldwide footprint and robust authorities and nongovernment partnerships to establish and rescue little one victims; establish and apprehend offenders; stop transnational little one sexual abuse; and assist make the web a safer place for youngsters.
HSI, a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is the principal investigative arm of the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these legal organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 workers consists of greater than 6,800 particular brokers assigned to 225 cities all through the US, and 93 abroad places in 56 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.