FORT WORTH, Texas — A 24-year-old former high school teacher has admitted to producing child pornography, a conviction that could land him in federal prison for decades. Matthew Anthony Keller, of Watauga, Texas, pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton to one count of production of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney John Parker for the Northern District of Texas.
Keller, who once taught at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and up to 30 years behind bars. He also risks a $250,000 fine and will be sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release if the court imposes the maximum penalty. He has been held without bond since his arrest in July 2016 on a related federal complaint and is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means on March 2, 2017.
The case began unraveling when a Michigan parent discovered their 15-year-old child (referred to as MV1 in court documents) was in a relationship with Keller. The parent grew alarmed when they learned Keller planned to fly from Texas to Macomb County, Michigan, potentially to meet the minor for a sexual encounter. Authorities were immediately notified, triggering a swift cross-state investigation.
A search warrant executed at Keller’s Watauga residence led to the seizure of a computer from his bedroom. Forensic examination revealed a sexually explicit video involving the minor victim. The digital evidence proved pivotal, establishing Keller’s direct role in the production of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, and the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Saleem as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement action.
Project Safe Childhood continues to target individuals who exploit children online and in person, aiming to rescue victims and dismantle predatory networks. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc/. Keller’s fall from educator to felon underscores the chilling reality of predators hiding in plain sight.
Related Federal Cases
- Virginia Man Charged in Child Sex Exploitation Case · Virginia
- Erie Man Admits to Possessing Child Pornography · Pennsylvania
- Daniel Joseph Salgat Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography · Michigan
- Matthew Andaluz Guilty of Child Porn · Michigan
- Gymnastics Coach Exposed: Royal Oak Man Guilty of Distributing Child Pornography · Michigan
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes