LUBBOCK, TX – Two Texas men are off the streets and headed to federal prison after being convicted in separate, but equally disturbing, cases involving the distribution of child pornography. Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings handed down the sentences last week, sending a message that such depravity won’t be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.
Cody Brett Wilcox, 26, of Lubbock, received the longer sentence: 188 months in federal prison. Wilcox pleaded guilty in December 2016 to one count of distributing child pornography. He’s been cooling his heels in jail since his arrest back in November 2016. The investigation revealed Wilcox actively sought out individuals with disturbing interests, using the instant messaging app Kik to connect with a person requesting content related to incest and taboo subjects. Between October 20th and 26th, 2016, Wilcox brazenly admitted to possessing and regularly trading child pornography, ultimately sending five images depicting prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit acts.
In a separate case, Ambrose Ledezma, 24, of San Angelo, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison. Ledezma also pleaded guilty in December 2016 to one count of distributing child pornography. Like Wilcox, Ledezma utilized Kik to disseminate his vile content. On April 15, 2015, he distributed two images of a minor prepubescent female engaged in sexually explicit conduct to a Kik group explicitly named “Only For Kid Porn.” Ledezma had obtained these images by actively searching for them online.
Both cases were spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (in the Ledezma case) and a joint effort between the Lubbock Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (in the Wilcox case). The successful prosecutions are a direct result of “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. This program pools federal, state, and local resources to aggressively target and dismantle networks involved in the sexual exploitation of children.
“Project Safe Childhood” isn’t just about arrests and convictions; it’s about finding and rescuing the victims of this horrific abuse. The initiative aims to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on innocent children. Anyone with information regarding child exploitation is urged to contact their local authorities or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy handled the prosecution of both Ledezma and Wilcox, securing these significant sentences. These convictions serve as a stark reminder that the digital world offers no refuge for predators. Resources and information on internet safety can be found at http://www.justice.gov/psc/. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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