CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 44-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Jason Michael Ehret, an active duty Marine Corps major serving as an aviation flight instructor, pleaded guilty Nov. 15, 2016.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack handed Ehret a sentence of 87 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the time of the plea, the court heard that authorities used peer-to-peer software and were able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an IP address that was associated with Ehret.
In March 2016, agents executed a search warrant at Ehret’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed more than 180 images and approximately four videos of child pornography. Authorities also discovered more than 570 images of child erotica.
Ehret was arrested on the federal charges in September 2016 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/pscand click on the tab "resources."