Cross-border probe leads to rescue of minor and conviction of prior sex offender
SAN DIEGO — A previously convicted sex offender now faces up to 20 years in prison following his conviction last week on federal child pornography charges arising from a probe by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.
Norman Paul Felts, 70, who lived on his boat in Ensenada, Mexico, was convicted Thursday following a bench trial in federal court. He has been in custody since his arrest by HSI agents in June 2013. Felts is a thrice-convicted sex offender who now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Felts’ sentencing is set for March 27.
According to the evidence presented in court, Felts possessed a loose hard drive containing several images of child pornography, including pictures depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images were found on Felts’ laptop in a folder named “One Million Recipes.” The images were discovered by HSI special agents after Felts entered the U.S. at the Tecate border crossing with his laptop in May 2013.
Aided by Mexican authorities, HSI special agents subsequently identified and rescued a male minor who worked on Felt’s boat in Mexico. During the trial, Felts admitted he took sexually explicit photos of the youth, knowing the boy was underage.
“This case is a stellar example of how HSI is working with its foreign law enforcement partners to combat the sexual exploitation of children and rescue the young victims,” said Joe Garcia, interim special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “Fortunately, this verdict and the ensuing sentence should ensure no more innocent children fall prey to this serial predator.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s office commends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and HSI special agents who worked diligently to prevent purveyors of child pornography from continuing to exploit these children both here in the United States and abroad,” said United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy.
According to court records, Felt was previously convicted of oral copulation (1972) and child molestation (1977). His most recent conviction was for procurement of a minor under 16 for a lewd act in 1999.
This case is being conducted as part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including Internet child pornographers. As part of Operation Predator, HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free tip line 1-866-347-2423 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, 1-800-843-5678.
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.
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