A 46-year-old east Texas man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting a child under 16 years old

TYLER, Texas — A 46-year-old east Texas man pleaded guilty Friday to child exploitation violations, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Investigations Division.

Robbie Newby, from Grapeland, Texas, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love to sexually exploiting a child.

According to information presented in court, on March 14, 2012, Newby coerced or persuaded a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating child pornography. A federal grand jury returned an indictment April 17, 2013, charging Newby with child exploitation violations.

Newby faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.