Houstonian who attempted suicide after sexual acts sent to prison
Published 2:50 pm Thursday, February 17, 2022
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HOUSTON – A 47-year-old local man has been ordered to prison for sexually exploiting children, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Adam Albert Sanchez pleaded guilty July 8, 2021, to production of child pornography.
Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett sentenced Sanchez to serve 264 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted that the actions of Sanchez have altered the minor victim’s life forever. He added that it will impact all of her relationships going forward and how she raises her children if she ever decides to become a parent. Sanchez was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim and will serve 20 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
In February 2020, authorities encountered minor female online as part of an unrelated investigation. Realizing her young age, law enforcement told her to report any inappropriate conduct she had experienced with any adults online to her parents and authorities. They were eventually able to locate the victim’s family and contacted them.
The investigation revealed Sanchez had picked her up near her home in Cypress and took her to a nearby hotel. At that location, he engaged in sexual intercourse with her and recorded it.
When law enforcement examined the minor’s phone, they found images in a hidden album. The images were also located on Sanchez’s phone. They showed him engaging in oral sex with her along with other sexual acts.
Sanchez learned authorities had visited the victim’s home and asked her to delete everything from her phone. Shortly thereafter, he attempted to take his own life and was admitted to a residential treatment facility.
Sanchez has been and 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack is prosecuting 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 link on that page.