Houston man charged federally with distributing, possessing child pornography

HOUSTON - A local man was arrested on Wednesday after an indictment was unsealed charging him with possessing and distributing child pornography. The indictment and arrest were announced by U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno, Southern District of Texas. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Peter Kingman Lindsley, 49, was charged in a three-count sealed indictment returned by a Houston grand jury on May 18. The indictment was unsealed May 25 after Lindsley was arrested by ICE HSI special agents. Lindsley had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate George Hanks who ordered him to be held without bond. Lindsley waived a hearing on the government's motion to detain him without bond pending trial resulting in U.S. Magistrate George Hanks granting the motion.

Lindsley was charged with two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Lindsley had been arrested by officers of the Houston Police Department on Jan. 24 on related state charges, and was in state custody until his arrest on federal charges on Wednesday.

Lindsley faces a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $250,000 if convicted of distributing child pornography. Possessing child pornography carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $250,000 upon conviction. Each offense also carries a maximum life term of supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children, in addition to registering as a sex offender.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Demetrius Bivins, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.