East Texas man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

BEAUMONT, Texas — A man from east Texas pleaded guilty on Tuesday to child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas. The investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

James Damian Newsom, 52, from Groves, Texas, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on July 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Earl S. Hines. According to court records, on May 28, 2010, a federal investigation led to the search of Newsom's personal computer at his residence. A forensic examination done by ICE HSI agents of a seized computer, revealed over 350,000 deleted images of child pornography.

Newsom faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing; a sentencing date has not been set.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice, Eastern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.