Corpus Christi resident gets 20 years for distributing child sexual abuse material

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 23-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for trading images and videos containing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Pete Frank pleaded guilty Nov. 25, 2024.

U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered Frank to serve 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including online conversations he had which detailed his past sexual assaults of a young family member. Frank must also serve 25 years of supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Frank will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

On April 14, 2020, authorities discovered an internet user accessing files depicting child sexual assault material (CSAM). Further investigation led them to Frank.

They conducted a search and found his cell phone.

Forensic examination of the device revealed Frank had been engaging in online conversations with individuals interested in CSAM. Frank participated in these conversations, seeking to trade images and videos with other individuals. Frank also discussed with others different strategies to engage in sexual activities with minors.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

"Those that possess and trade CSAM indirectly contribute to the production of that terrible material, and so punishing possession helps to diminish demand," said Ganjei. "The 20-year sentence in this case should serve as a warning to those who would otherwise seek out CSAM."

The Corpus Christi Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ's PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.