Corpus Christi, Texas – A shocking revelation in the military community: 44-year-old Marine Corps major Jason Michael Ehret has admitted to a sinister crime, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The charge comes as a shock to many given his role as an aviation flight instructor.
According to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Ehret’s transgression was uncovered through the use of peer-to-peer software by Corpus Christi Police Department detectives. The investigators successfully downloaded files containing child pornography from an IP address linked to Ehret, leading to a thorough search and seizure operation.
In March 2016, agents executed a warrant at Ehret’s residence in Corpus Christi. They seized several electronic devices that, upon forensic analysis, revealed over 160 images and approximately four videos of child pornography. The magnitude of the offense underscores the gravity of the charge against him.
Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack accepted Ehret’s guilty plea today and set sentencing for January 25, 2017. If convicted, Ehret faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Beyond his prison term, he could also be placed on supervised release for the remainder of his life.
Ehret was initially arrested on federal charges in September 2016 and has been in custody since then. His case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez will handle the case. For more information on this ongoing effort to protect children and seek justice for those who prey on them, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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