Houston-Area Man Convicted on Multiple Child Pornography Charges

HOUSTON—DJ Christopher Lowe, 37, has pleaded guilty to all eights of an indictment charging him with possession, distribution, as well as production of child pornography, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Lowe admitted to exploiting six different children in order to produce child pornography.

The production and distribution charges occurred as far back as 2009 and June 2010, respectively, while he possessed the child pornography as recently as Aug. 13, 2010.

Lowe’s activities were discovered when an individual was arrested on similar charges in Italy. On that man’s computer were child pornography images and chats between he and Lowe, including child pornography images/videos of Lowe’s own relatives. Based on the information obtained in Italy, a federal search warrant was executed on Lowe’s home in Houston on Aug. 13, 2010, at which time, more than 17,000 images and hundreds of videos of child pornography were found. All of the children used in the production of child pornography have been identified and were, at the time of Lowe’s arrest, as young as 2 years old.

At the time the warrant was executed, Lowe was interviewed and admitted to downloading, possessing, and distributing child pornography. He acknowledged his communication with the Italian individual and exchanging digital images and videos of child pornography with him.

United States District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr., who accepted Lowe’s guilty plea just a few minutes ago, has set sentencing for March 2, 2012. At that time, he faces up to 10 years for the one count of possession and a minimum of five and up to 20 years for the distribution of child pornography conviction. In addition, he faces 15-30 years for each of the six counts of producing child pornography. Each charge is also punishable by a $250,000 fine and upon completion of any prison term imposed, Lowe faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect the children and prohibit the use of the Internet. Originally in state custody, Lowe was transferred to federal custody at the request of the United States to respond to these allegations, where he has remained and will remain pending his sentencing hearing.

The charges against Lowe are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Innocent Images Unit of the Houston FBI, which focuses its attention on investigating offenses involving the exploitation of children via the Internet.

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