MCALLEN, Texas — A South Texas school scholar pleaded responsible March 21 to possession of kid sexual abuse materials following a Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Rio Grande Valley Youngster Exploitation Job Pressure investigation.
Israel Flores Jr., 21, of Los Fresnos, appeared earlier than a federal decide and admitted to possessing little one sexual abuse materials on a flash drive he obtained whereas he was a scholar on the College of Texas.
In response to courtroom paperwork, Flores downloaded the kid sexual abuse materials by way of Kik and saved it on a flash drive for simpler distribution. He then gave the system to a different individual. Flores acknowledged being the unique proprietor of the flash drive and that it had been in his possession for a few years previous to giving it to another person.
U.S. District Choose Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 21. Flores faces as much as 20 years in federal jail. He’ll stay in custody pending his sentencing listening to.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Eliza Carmen Rodriguez for the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting 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 by investigators. From outdoors the US and Canada, callers ought to dial 802-872-6199. Listening to impaired customers might name TTY 802-872-6196.
HSI takes a victim-centered method to little one exploitation investigations by working to establish, rescue and stabilize victims. HSI works in partnership with the Nationwide Heart for Lacking and Exploited Kids (NCMEC), ICAC companions, and different federal, state, and native companies to assist resolve circumstances and rescue sexually exploited kids. Suspected little one 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 companies and personal trade sector companions working collectively to forestall and deter on-line little one sexual abuse.
One among HSI’s high priorities is to guard the general public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s little one exploitation investigations program is a central part of this mission set. Additional, HSI is acknowledged as a world chief on this investigative self-discipline, and is dedicated to using its huge authorities, worldwide footprint and powerful authorities and nongovernment partnerships to establish and rescue little one victims, establish, and apprehend offenders, forestall transnational little one sexual abuse, and assist make the web a safer place for kids.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), accountable 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 workers consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through the US, and 93 abroad areas in 56 nations. 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.