Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to distribution, receipt, possession of child pornography

GALVESTON, Texas – A southeast Texas man has pleaded guilty to distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography.

The plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, southern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by Pearland Police Department (PPD) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

John Kevin Waldrip, 44, of Angleton, came to the attention of law enforcement following an investigation into persons using the Internet to traffic in child pornography via peer-to-peer software. A detective with PPD was able to locate and identify a computer as offering to participate in the receipt of child pornography videos through a peer-to-peer network on the Internet. Through the investigation, it was determined that the computer was located at a residence in Angleton. 

On June 30, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Angleton residence, during which time they seized a computer. A forensic examination on the computer revealed 81 videos and 512 images of child pornography involving minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the videos are of known victims as identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr., accepted the guilty plea and set sentencing for Aug. 16. Waldrip faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the distribution and receipt charges as well as another possible 10-year maximum sentence for the possession conviction. Each conviction also carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

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.