Chinese national admits to possessing multiple child pornography videos

McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Chinese national has been convicted for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On or about May 8, Tong Sun attempted to illegally enter the country in an area near Roma. Law enforcement took him into custody, at which time they discovered several videos that constituted child sexual abuse material or child pornography on his phone.

One of the videos depicted a child who appeared to be younger than five years of age.

Sun admitted to ownership of the phone and to possessing the child sexual abuse material.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 25, 2024. At that time, Sun faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.