Sex offender pleads guilty to receiving child porn

HUMBLE, TX Larry Don Tillis, 47, is a registered sex offender based on a 1993 conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child. On Friday, he was convicted of receiving child pornography via the internet.

The investigation started in July 2009 when an FBI agent conducted an online undercover session and downloaded child pornography from another user on the peer-to-peer network Limewire. The agent downloaded 26 images from a computer later identified as being used by Tillis. Of those images, 24 were believed to contain child pornography, some of which included minor females involved in bestiality and engaging in sexual activity with adult males.

In September, agents from the FBI Houston Cyber-Crimes Task Force Squad executed a search warrant at Tillis' residence in Humble. A preliminary review of the forensically analyzed hard drive seized from Tillis's residence resulted in the discovery of images and videos containing child pornography. He was arrested.

Because of his prior conviction, Tillis faces a sentence up to 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 as possible punishment. Tillis also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.