Corpus Christi man arrested, faces charges of distributing child pornography

A Corpus Christi man is in custody on allegations he distributed child pornography, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

David Medina, 36, was arrested Thursday morning upon the filing of a criminal complaint.

According to the charges, the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force conducted an investigation on a file sharing network looking for potential offenders sharing child pornography in September 2016, the news release states.

An officer was eventually able to download many images of child pornography from a computer and a specific IP address allegedly linked to Medina in Corpus Christi.

FBI agents obtained a search warrant for Medina’s residence, after which agents seized several digital devices that led to the discovery of more than 3,500 images and 28 videos of child pornography, according to the charges.

The news release stated that another investigation in 2017 also led authorities to a different computer sharing child pornography, which was traced to a second residence linked to Medina.

His cell phone was seized and agents allegedly found the device contained more than 1,000 images and 95 videos of child pornography.

The criminal complaint further indicates that on Feb. 21, authorities received information that someone was downloading child pornography at a Corpus Christi hotel. Agents found that Medina was renting a room at that location and seized his laptop as part of the investigation.

Medina was expected to appear before Judge B. Janice Ellington in federal court Thursday. If convicted, Medina faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.