McALLEN, TEXAS — A 19-year-old woman from China, identified as Jinyi Zheng, has been sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Zheng pleaded guilty on June 2nd. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered her imprisonment following the plea deal. As a non-U.S. citizen, Zheng is expected to face removal proceedings after serving her federal sentence. If not promptly removed, she must serve an additional 24 months of home confinement. During her supervised release, which will follow her prison term, she will be under strict restrictions to prevent access to children and the internet.
On February 12th, authorities apprehended Zheng near Hidalgo after she unlawfully entered the United States from Mexico. A search of an Apple iPhone 14 in her possession revealed six videos depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Ganjei emphasized the importance of border security, stating that Zheng’s case highlights the dangers posed by individuals who seek to exploit children. He praised law enforcement for their swift action in preventing any potential harm to American communities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell is prosecuting this case under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Border Patrol.
Zheng will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. For more information on Project Safe Childhood and internet safety education, visit the DOJ’s PSC page.
RELATED: China Woman Sentenced for Child Porn at Border
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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