MCALLEN, Texas — Hugo Benjamin Tijerina, 36, of Pharr, pleaded responsible in federal court docket March 21 after admitting he acquired movies and pictures containing baby sexual abuse materials on his laptop computer. The plea adopted a Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) investigation.
In line with court docket paperwork, on July 15, 2019, authorities recognized an IP handle related to a house in Pharr that was utilizing peer-to-peer software program to obtain information depicting baby sexual abuse materials. The investigation led to Tijerina.
A search of the house revealed a laptop computer containing software program used to obtain baby sexual abuse materials, search phrases used to seek out and obtain movies containing that materials, and information containing pictures of youngsters underneath the age of 12.
U.S. District Choose Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted Tijerina’s responsible plea and set sentencing for June 21. Tijerina faces as much as 20 years in federal jail and a $250,000 high quality.
Tijerina stays in custody pending switch to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be decided within the close to future.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Eliza Carmen Rodriguez for the 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 outdoors 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 Middle for Lacking and Exploited Kids (NCMEC), ICAC companions, and different federal, state, and native businesses to assist resolve instances and rescue sexually exploited kids. Suspected baby sexual exploitation or lacking kids could also be reported to NCMEC’s toll-free 24-hour hotline, 800-THE-LOST.
HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, a global alliance of legislation enforcement businesses and personal trade sector companions working collectively to forestall and deter on-line baby sexual abuse.
One in every of HSI’s prime priorities is to guard the general public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s baby exploitation investigations program is a central part of this mission set. Additional, HSI is acknowledged as a worldwide chief on this investigative self-discipline, and is dedicated to using its huge authorities, worldwide footprint and powerful authorities and non-government partnerships to determine and rescue baby victims, determine, and apprehend offenders, forestall transnational baby sexual abuse, and assist make the web a safer place for youngsters.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these felony organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by which worldwide commerce, journey and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 workers consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through america, and 93 abroad areas 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.
