Tong Sun, Possession of Child Pornography, Texas 2023

A 46-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for transporting child pornography in Texas.

Tong Sun pleaded guilty on December 20, 2023, to possessing and transporting child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton handed down the sentence on [no date mentioned], which also includes a $35,000 special assessment and five years of supervised release.

Sun was taken into custody on May 8, 2023, after attempting to enter the country near Roma, Texas. Law enforcement discovered several videos of child pornography on his phone, including one depicting a child younger than five years old.

Sun admitted to owning the phone and possessing the child pornography.

Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.

Sun will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Following his imprisonment, he will be subject to removal proceedings due to his status as a non-U.S. citizen.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/chinese-national-sent-prison-possessing-child-pornography-videos-minor-younger-five