MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Mexican national living in Southaven, Mississippi was arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in northern Mississipi said thursday.
Adolfo Raul Vasquez-Santana, 32, allegedly downloaded and shared videos that depicted the sexual abuse of children, some who appear to be younger than 13 years old.
Vasquez-Santana is illegally residing in the U.S., authorities said.
Vasquez-Santana is charged with the receipt or distribution of the content by using the Internet. If he is convicted of the crime, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says that Vasquez-Santana was initially investigated by the Southaven Police Department following a tip they received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He was arrested and charged, but before his prosecution in state court, he was released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal from the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security then charged Vasquez-Santana with the federal offenses at issue in the criminal complaint.
“Possession of child sexual abuse images leads to further abuse of the most vulnerable members of our society: our children. The DOJ will do everything in our power to protect them…,” said the DOJ in a press release.
WREG spoke to people in Southaven who say illegal immigration is an issue in the community.
“Arrest them all. And if they got. They’re going about it wrong,” said one Southaven resident. “They need to clean out the jails and get all of them and then go for the people that actually try to work for a living.”
“You know, he came over here illegal. So, I mean, he knew the consequences,” said the resident.
Senator Michael McClendon proposed a bill last month allowing Mississippi law enforcement to work with ICE to streamline the arrest processes. It has not been passed; however, he believes he will have support.
Senator McClendon says it would save Mississippi taxpayers money and create an immigrant enforcement division within the state’s Department of Public Safety.
WREG will let you know if this bill passes.