Southeast Texas man sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A local man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in federal prison following his conviction for possessing child pornography, announced 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), with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
John Robert Camp, 24, was sentenced Aug. 18 by Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head to 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 10 years of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender. Camp pleaded guilty to the charges in May.
Camp was identified after HSI special agents used peer-to-peer software to download various files containing child pornography from an Internet Protocol address associated with him. Authorities conducted a search warrant and seized several electronic media storage devices from Camp’s residence in Corpus Christi. A forensic examination of the items led to the discovery of 57 images of child pornography and more than 120 videos containing child pornography.
“Child pornography is the permanent record of the sexual exploitation of a child and the victimization continues every time that image is transmitted, downloaded, shared, or viewed,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “HSI special agents take pride in their role of seeking justice on behalf of those who have been exploited and victimized.”
Camp admitted to downloading, viewing and sharing videos of child pornography. He further noted that he began viewing child pornography images in the eighth grade on a laptop that the school had provided.
Previously released on bond, Camp was taken into custody following the Aug. 18 hearing, where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
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 12,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 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. HSI is a founding member and current chair 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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