Jury Convicts San Antonio Man on Federal Child Pornography Charges

In San Antonio this afternoon, a federal jury convicted 53–year-old Elton Vallare of San Antonio of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Jurors convicted Vallare of two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.  On June 14, 2017, FBI agents arrested Vallare following the execution of a search warrant at his residence.  During the search warrant, investigators recovered two laptop computers and various computer related equipment.  A forensics review of the seized items revealed the presence of numerous video and image files depicting child pornography which the defendant downloaded and distributed via the internet.

Vallare faces between five years and 20 years in federal prison for each distribution and receipt charge.  He also faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each possession charge.  Vallare remains in federal custody.  Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

The FBI’s San Antonio Child Exploitation Task Force investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.