GALVESTON, Texas – A 40-year-old man has been sent to federal prison for production and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced Wednesday.
Sean Michael Kriss pleaded guilty June 1, 2022, to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
Recommended Videos
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown has now sentenced Kriss to 360 and 120 months for the production and possession convictions, according to a release. They will run consecutively for a total 480-month term of imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court also heard additional information, including a letter from the victim’s mother detailing how Kriss’ actions destroyed their family and has caused them a lot of stress and anxiety, prosecutors said. She further detailed how his betrayal took away their sense of security.
In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that Kriss committed these acts against the victim who was at a vulnerable age. Kriss was further ordered to serve 10 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.
Kriss will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Individuals, like Kriss, who produce child pornography and share it with perverted like-minded individuals need to be stopped,” Hamdani said. This sentence will help to do that. The exploitation of children has no place in our community and my office will vigorously pursue prosecution of anyone involved in the production and distribution of child pornography to the fullest extent of the law.”
Prosecutors detail investigation
The investigation revealed Kriss had shared a video via Snapchat he created of a minor female from his cellphone.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and seized his electronic devices. Forensic examination on those items resulted in the discovery of child pornography videos and images depicting the minor victim.
In total, law enforcement found 408 images and two videos of child pornography Kriss had in his collection.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Pearland Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.