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Press Release

Corpus Christi Man Pleads Guilty to Transferring Obscene Material to a Minor

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old local man has been convicted of transferring obscene material to a 14-year-old girl, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Brandon Guthrie, of Corpus Christi, entered his plea today before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos.

During the hearing, the court heard that Guthrie met a 14-year-old female at a movie theater in Corpus Christi and began communicating with her via a messaging application. The minor’s parents discovered the communications and contacted the authorities. An undercover officer assumed control of the minor’s messaging account and continued to communicate with Guthrie, during which time Guthrie sent several videos of himself engaging in sexual explicit conduct. 

Judge Ramos has set sentencing for Nov, 1, 2016, at which time Guthrie faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Guthrie also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children including sex offender registration. 

The charges are the result of the investigative efforts of the FBI and Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, 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 and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Updated July 21, 2016

Topic
Project Safe Childhood