Sept. 14, 2011

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HOUSTON - Agustin G. Figueroa Jr., of Angleton, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. U.S. District Judge Gray Miller sentenced Figueroa earlier this morning and also ordered him to pay a $2000 fine.

Figueroa, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography on May 12, 2011. Figueroa acknowledged in the plea agreement that he possessed 20,825 images including both still and video images on May 25, 2010. These images contained children engaged in sexual acts with animals, children in acts of bondage and children under the age of 12 engaged in sexual acts with adults and images of children one to three years of age. Additionally, “ebooks” were found during a search of his residence on June 8, 2010, in his possession discussing incest and bestiality.

The charges against Figueroa are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the United States Secret Service and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force which focuses its attention on investigating offenses involving the exploitation of children via the Internet.

Figueroa faced a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of 10 years imprisonment up to a maximum of 20 years for possession of child pornography. The mandatory minimum sentence is based on fact that Figueroa is convicted sex offender with a 1996 conviction for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Upon completion of the prison term imposed, Figueroa will be on supervised release for life during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect the children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation. Led by United States Attorneys’ 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack.