Behind the Scenes The Department of Justice & Border Patrol Working Overtime !

April 30, 2021
YUMA, Ariz. – A Yuma Sector Border Patrol agent apprehended a migrant trying to sneak into the country Wednesday morning and discovered he was an aggravated felon previously convicted of a sex offense against a minor.

April 28, 2021
PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge arrested Jaime Javier Ruelas Mireles, a 57-year-old Mexican national, lawful permanent resident from Edcouch, Texas after discovering he had an outstanding arrest warrant for aggravated child sexual assault.

April 27, 2021
YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended a sex offender who illegally entered the United States early Monday morning. Agents identified the migrant as Jorge Perez-Diaz, 58. Record checks conducted on Perez-Diaz revealed felony convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor, for which he served time in the Idaho State Penitentiary, and re-entry into the U.S. following a prior removal.

April 29, 2021
TORNILLO, Texas – A man being sought on multiple sexual assault/abuse of a child charges was apprehended by CBP Officers working at the Marcelino Serna/Tornillo port of entry on Tuesday. He was one of 27 wanted people U.S Customs and Border Protection Officers from the El Paso Field Office arrested during the last week.

April 21, 2021
LAREDO, Texas – U.S. soldiers deployed in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), working together with Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents, rescued an unaccompanied child in the Rio Grande River.

The rescue occurred during the mid-evening of April 19, when several undocumented individuals attempted to cross the Rio Grande River illegally into the United States. A U.S. Army soldier assigned to support CBP in the area observed three of the four individuals in the group turn back to the Mexican side of the river after being detected. The soldier noticed the fourth individual left behind on the U.S. side was a young child struggling to get out of the river. Swiftly acting, he assisted the child out of the river onto the U.S. riverbank.

Fortunately, the child, later identified as an undocumented individual from El Salvador, did not require any medical assistance after being rescued. The child has been turned over to Health and Human Services.

April 27, 2021
On Sep. 28, 2020, authorities discovered the sexual exploitation of a minor child via social media. It was determined she was an eight-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Panama.

The investigation led to an IP address in Brownsville belonging to Mederos. Law enforcement conducted a search at his residence and seized a cellphone. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 1,229 images and 110 videos of child pornography, approximately 55 of which were of the minor female in Panama. Several others also depicted child pornography involving infants and toddlers.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 2. At that time, Mederos faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

April 26, 2021
HOUSTON – A 30-year-old Houston bounty hunter has been ordered to prison following his convictions of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit visa fraud and international money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Luis de Jesus Rodriguez aka Htown Hunter pleaded guilty July 8, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes sentenced Rodriguez to a total of 180 months in federal prison for leading an international sex trafficking ring.

April 23, 2021
A 41-year-old Houston-area man has been ordered to federal prison for 40 years after producing videos of his sexual abuse of a minor, possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Miguel Rivera pleaded guilty Oct. 30, 2020, to production, receipt and possession of child pornography.

April 22, 2021
A 63-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison after attempting to obtain sexual images of a young boy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Mark Wayne Cottrell pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ordered Cotrell to serve a total of 121 months in prison. He was further ordered to pay $3000 to a victim who’s image appeared in the child pornography found in Cottrell’s possession. He must also register as a sex offender and serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet.

April 15, 2021
A 32-year-old former officer with the Primera Police Department (PPD) has admitted to possessing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Joel Alex Sandate pleaded guilty today.

The investigation revealed that from September 2019 to March 2020, Sandate had installed hidden cameras to capture recordings of a minor female. He saved the recorded videos onto various computer media devices such as his cellphone, a sim card and a USB drive.

Another PPD officer had discovered the images and reported it to authorities.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. accepted the plea today and set sentencing for July 20. At that time, Sandate faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

April 14, 2021
A 49-year-old Austin man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jeffrey Charles Hyde Jr. pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2018.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera Jr. ordered him to serve 121 months in federal prison.

April 14, 2021
A 41-year-old Houstonian has entered guilty pleas to coercion and enticement of a minor as well as sexual exploitation of a child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Thomas Douglas Butler had met a 14-year-old female on a social media/video chat site. After grooming her through their communications, he traveled to San Antonio to pick her up and bring her to his residence in a Houston hotel. While there, the victim reported Butler engaged in sex acts with her, provided her with alcohol on numerous occasions and gave her very little food.

Authorities located the victim Aug. 18, 2020, reunited her with her family and arrested Butler.

April 1, 2021
A man and woman have entered guilty pleas to production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Reid Etheridge, 41, McAllen, admitted he filmed himself committing the sexual abuse and assault of two minor children from on or about Jan. 1, 2020, to approximately Oct. 1, 2020. As part of her guilty plea, Alicia Cronkhite, 29, Edinburg, admitted she took photographs of one minor victim’s exposed genitals and transmitted those photographs to Etheridge at his request.

Etheridge and Cronkhite pleaded guilty to two counts and one count of production of child pornography, respectively. Etheridge also admitted to coercion and enticement of a minor, while Cronkhite entered her plea to aiding and abetting the coercion and enticement of a minor.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing June 15. At that time, both Etheridge and Cronkhite face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Music is "Rescue by Lauren Daigle" Operation Underground
https://youtu.be/8cpIlFBZbko

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