A 62-year-old non-Indian physician employed by Indian Health Services, Thomas Murray, has pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge in New Mexico.
Murray, who resides in Acoma Pueblo, N.M., was charged with transporting, distributing, and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, the FBI initiated the federal investigation leading to Murray’s arrest on December 19, 2014, after receiving a report from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office.
Murray was subsequently indicted on January 21, 2015, and charged with receiving and possessing child pornography from October 19, 2014, through January 5, 2015, in Cibola County, N.M.
During today’s change of plea hearing, Murray pled guilty to possession of child pornography under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
At sentencing, Murray faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Murray will be required to register as a sex offender after completing his prison sentence.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, and the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob A. Wishard as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico.
Related Federal Cases
- Carl Weatherman, Receipt of Child Pornography, New Mexico 2013 · New Mexico
- Michael Ray Sepulveda, Child Exploitation and Child Pornography, New Mexico 2016 · New Mexico
- Tristalyn Valencia, Distributing Child Pornography, New Mexico 2016 · New Mexico
- Alfonso Navarrete, Child Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography, New Mexico 2017 · Ohio
- Johncarlos Ortiz, Child Pornography Receipt, New Mexico 2024 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes