A 41-year-old man from Alvin, Texas, Franklin Joseph Perkins, has pleaded guilty to charges related to child pornography. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei as the trial was about to commence.
Perkins, who formerly worked at Kuk Sool Won martial arts studio and Gulf Coast Gymnastics in Alvin, was linked to a Google account that had uploaded files potentially containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Law enforcement determined that Perkins used multiple Google accounts and his cell phone for receiving and possessing such material.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for April 15. Perkins faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years for receiving CSAM, with an additional penalty of up to 10 years for possession. He may also be fined up to $250,000 along with special assessments under the Justice for Trafficking Act and the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. Mandatory restitution could amount to no less than $3,000 per victim.
Perkins will remain in custody until sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations in collaboration with Pearland Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo, Carrie Wirsing, and Colton Turner are prosecuting this case under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more details on Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.