UTRGV student gets 8 years for possession of child porn

LOS FRESNOS, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Los Fresnos man has been ordered to serve eight years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

In March of 2023, Israel Flores Jr. admitted to possessing child pornography on a flash drive he obtained while he was a student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Flores went before Chief Judge Randy Crane Sunday morning, where he received the following sentence of 97 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release with special conditions.

Background

Flores was arrested July 23, 2021.

A federal indictment states Flores possessed multiple images and videos of child pornography, some of which included images of prepubescent minors and a minor who was under the age of 12.

The U.S. Attorney's Office states Flores downloaded the child sexual abuse material via Kik and stored it on a flash drive for easier distribution. He then gave the device to another person.

Flores admitted to being the original owner of the flash drive and that it had been in his possession for many years prior to giving it to someone else.

Special Conditions

The Los Fresnos man must register as a sex offender and cannot have direct contact with minors, not including his own children without permission from his probation officer. Flores must not possess any pornographic material and must participate in a sex offensive-specific treatment program. He cannot live, work or loiter within 100 feet of any school yard or place primarily used for children.

Records also indicate that Flores must not associate with any National American Man/Boy Love Association.

Additionally, Flores must pay $3,000 in restitution to each of his seven victims.