A South Texas man was sentenced for enticement of a minor and production of child sexual abuse material following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force.
Christian Hanks, 29, from McAllen, was sentenced on February 19 by U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez to 400 and 360 months for enticement and production of child pornography convictions, respectively.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the repeat nature of the offences and the degree of manipulation involved. Judge Alvarez also indicated Hanks’ behaviour was consistent with that of a sexual predator.
He was further ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison terms. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet.
Hanks will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty on October 15, 2024.
“As the court found, the defendant’s behaviour in this case was particularly abhorrent and deserving of a significant sentence,” said Ganjei. “Children deserve to grow up in a safe community, free from the predations of individuals like Hanks. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that similar predators are uncovered and prosecuted.”
According to court documents, Hanks recorded himself sexually abusing a minor victim in December 2023.
The investigation revealed years of communication between himself and the minor regarding further sexual abuse and requests to abuse the minor and other minor children.
The investigation also revealed Hanks had engaged in grooming behaviour with another minor victim in the Western District of Louisiana to entice her to engage in sexual conduct with him.
The investigation revealed he also engaged in sexual intercourse with the second minor victim.
He remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
