Previously deported Mexican man sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for possessing child pornography while illegally entering US

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A previously deported Mexican man, who was arrested while illegally entering the United States, was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in federal prison for possessing child pornography during his transit.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.  This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The following agencies assisted with this investigation: Duval County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol, and Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Jesus Hernandez-Ramos, 33, was sentenced March 11 by Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack to 86 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Hernandez-Ramos must also register as a sex offender. As a previously deported illegal alien, he is expected to be removed from the United States after he completes his prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to the charges Jan. 4.

Hernandez-Ramos was apprehended in April 2014 by U.S. Border Patrol agents as part of a group of people that were being smuggled into the U.S. When questioned, Ramos admitted to being illegally present in the U.S. At the time of his arrest, authorities seized a cellular telephone from Ramos. Forensic analysis of the device ultimately revealed more than 980 images and 35 videos of child pornography. Many of the images depicted infants.

Ramos was arrested on the federal charges in November 2015 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, Southern 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 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 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.

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