BROWNSVILLE, Texas – In a stark reminder of the zero-tolerance stance against child pornography, 35-year-old Apolonio Sanchez-Martinez from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of nearly 1,500 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentence following Sanchez-Martinez’s guilty plea on September 18, 2024. The defendant will serve a 97-month-term of imprisonment and pay $160,000 in restitution to known victims, while also facing 15 years of supervised release after his prison term is completed.
Sanchez-Martinez was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations on August 12, 2023. During a secondary inspection at the Brownsville Gateway Port of Entry, authorities discovered 1,405 videos and 152 images of CSAM on his cell phone.
“There is zero tolerance for child sex abuse material in the United States,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will do everything we can to not only apprehend and punish those who produce such material but also those, like Sanchez-Martinez, who consume it.”
The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera reflects a tough stance against consumers of CSAM. Following his release from prison, Sanchez-Martinez will be required to register as a sex offender and comply with stringent restrictions on accessing children and the internet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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