CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Jorge Betancourt, 37, of Robstown, has pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
The court heard today that the case began when a detective with the Corpus Christi Police Department was able to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an IP address that was associated with Betancourt. As a result, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was contacted to assist in the investigation.
In June 2015, authorities executed a search warrant at Betancourt’s residence, at which time they seized several digital devices. Forensic analysis on the digital devices revealed more than 530 videos and more than 540 images of child pornography. Betancourt admitted to using peer-to-peer software to download child pornography for approximately 11 years.
Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head accepted the guilty plea today and set sentencing for May 25, 2016. At that time, Betancourt faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Betancourt also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.
Betancourt was arrested on the federal charges in October 2015 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending his sentencing hearing.
The charges against Betancourt are the result of an investigation conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations.
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/psc and click on the tab "resources."