Grand Jury Indicts Three for Internet Exploitatoin of Children

HOUSTON, December 19, 2007 – Three federal indictments charging three Houston area men with using the internet to exploit children have been unsealed following the arrest of each man, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Perry Adkins, 58, Victor Saavedra, 54, both of Houston, and Keith Hernandez, 23, LaMarque, Texas, have each been charged in separate multiple-count indictments with federal offenses involving the use of the internet to exploit children.

Adkins is charged in a four-count indictment with sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of receiving images of child pornography-including those of minor females being sexually assaulted and possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that in December 2005, Adkins induced a minor to engage in a sexual act for the purpose of making a visual depiction and then distributing the depiction. He was arrested at his residence today in Houston.

A second indictment was unsealed following the arrest of Saavedra at his place of employment in Houston today. Saavedra is charged in a two-count indictment with sexual exploitation of a child alleged to have occurred in September 2005 and September 2006 when he allegedly induced two different minors to engage in a sexual act for the purpose of making visual depictions and then distributing the depictions.

In the third case, Hernandez is charged with receipt of child pornography, including images of a female under the age of 18, and with possession of child pornography including one of a girl under 18 being sexually assaulted. The indictment charging Hernandez was unsealed following his arrest at his residence in LaMarque yesterday. Hernandez is expected to appear before United States Magistrate Judge John Froeschner tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Sexual exploitation of a child carries a statutory minimum punishment of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years imprisonment, upon conviction. Receipt of child pornography carries a punishment range of 5-20 years, upon conviction, while possession of child pornography carries a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000. The United States will ask the court to detain all three men in federal custody without bond pending trial.

The investigations leading to these three indictments were conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The FBI, Royal Canadian Mounties and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office contributed to the investigation of Hernandez and the Edmonton, Canada, Police Service assisted with the investigation of Adkins. The cases are being prosecuted by Angela Goodwin, a Special Assistant United States Attorney from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

These cases are being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, launched by the Department of Justice in February 2006. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

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