Southeast Texas registered sex offender pleads guilty to distributing child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old registered sex offender from Southeast Texas pleaded guilty Thursday to sending photos depicting the sexual exploitation of children under the age of 10.

This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Corpus Christi Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Daniel Ellsworth Janssen pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography Oct. 22 in the Southern District of Texas.

After linking Janssen to an email and IP address that was accessing child pornography, law enforcement conducted a search of his Corpus Christi residence. During the search they seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination later revealed images and videos of child pornography, some of which he had distributed using his cell phone. The majority of the images and videos located on Janssen’s devices depicted the sexual exploitation of children under the age of 10.

At the time of his arrest, Janssen was a registered sex offender as a result of a previous conviction for attempted indecency with a child.

Sentencing has been set for Jan. 25, 2021. At that time, Janssen faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Popejoy is prosecuting the case.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE; TTY for hearing impaired: (802) 872-6196. This hotline is staffed around-the-clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may also be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or https://report.cybertip.org/.