CORPUS CHRISTI, TX—Kevin Justin Esquivel, 24, of Corpus Christi, has pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

The court heard today that agents with the FBI Dallas Child Exploitation Task Force, while using peer-to-peer software, were able to successfully download of various files containing child pornography from an IP address that was associated with Esquivel. As a result of this information, the FBI office in Corpus Christi was contacted to assist in the investigation.

In August 2014, agents executed a search warrant at Esquivel’s residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed more than 4,000 images and more than 900 videos of child pornography. Esquivel admitted having an sexual interest in children between the ages of 10 and 13 years of age and having downloaded child pornography.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby accepted the guilty plea today and set sentencing for June 30, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. At that time, Esquivel faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Esquivel 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 and prohibit the use of the Internet.

Esquivel was arrested on the federal charges in August 2014 and has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending his sentencing.

The FBI investigated with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department.

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 and click on the tab “resources.”