Repeat Offender Locked Up for Child Porn in Texas
A 43-year-old McAllen resident has been sent back to prison for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Rene Javier Sarmienta pleaded guilty March 20, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Sarmienta to serve 120 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted it was unfortunate Sarmienta relapsed and needs therapy. Sarmienta was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of 12 victims and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term.
The court also noted his previous conviction of possessing child pornography in 2002 and that he would be spending another significant amount of his life in prison. The investigation began when law enforcement discovered Sarmienta had been purchasing child pornography using a PayPal account. He also failed to report having several social media accounts to local authorities as required due to status as a sex offender.
A forensic examination of Sarmienta’s cell phone revealed 6,300 images of child pornography. Several of the images included prepubescent minors and sadomasochistic conduct. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the McAllen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Alexis Garcia and Tyler Foster prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Rene Javier Sarmienta, 43, was convicted of possession of child pornography. He will serve 120 months in federal prison and pay $36,000 in restitution to 12 victims. The court noted his previous conviction in 2002 and that he will spend another significant amount of his life in prison. The investigation revealed 6,300 images of child pornography on his cell phone.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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