Previously convicted sex offender sentenced in North Texas to 50 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children
DALLAS — A previously convicted North Texas sexual predator was sentenced Friday to 50 years in federal prison.
This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox. This case involved the coordinated efforts of the Eastern and Northern districts of Texas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Flower Mound (Texas) Police Department, Denton County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, Denton County District Attorney’s Office, Wise County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office, and Bridgeport (Texas) Police Department.
Adam Donald Bennet, 36, pleaded guilty in April to one count of sexually exploiting children following an HSI-led investigation. He was sentenced Aug. 23 by Senior U.S. District Judge John McBryde.
“Homeland Security Investigations’ tentacles extend globally, and in this case, resulted in the lengthy federal prison sentence of a previously convicted sex offender,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI Dallas. “With HSI attaché offices worldwide, we routinely share leads with our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate many different types of crimes – including and especially those targeting the most vulnerable members of society, our children.”
According to court documents, authorities began investigating Bennett in June 2018 when he began online chatting with an undercover officer. During their communications, Bennett acknowledged committing sexual acts with minors, according to the criminal complaint. He also sent the undercover officer video recordings of him sexually abusing a minor child residing in north Texas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted 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 19,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2018, more than 3,000 (3,191) child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 850 (859) victims identified or rescued.
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. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
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.
HSI is a founding member 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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