Eastern District of Texas highlights child sexual abuse and sex trafficking convictions for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, 10 offenders sentenced to a total of 270 years in federal prison and one offender sentenced to LIFE
PLANO, Texas – Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs joins the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (EOUSA) in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.”
“The dark web has exploded into an unprecedented underground world of perversion and horror,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Predators are using the internet to facilitate the abuse of children, as well as adult sex trafficking. The cases below highlight our relentless work to protect children in the Eastern District of Texas and beyond. We are also committed to bringing those who are engaged in sex trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas to justice.”
In April 2026, Kyle Lee Roy Francis, a Northwest ISD teacher, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with receiving and possessing child pornography.
On March 19, 2026, Justin Philip Ciruti was convicted by a jury in Plano of possessing and distributing over 200 images of child pornography. Ciruti faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.
On January 22, 2026, William McKinnley Garland and Anastasiya Claire Lyons were convicted at trial in a sex trafficking conspiracy that involved recruiting young women on social media sites, convincing them they could make a lot of money as models or escorts, and then forcing them into prostitution, which often included beatings, tasers, shock collars, frigid showers, unwanted tattoos, and acts of humiliation. Garland and Lyons face up to life in federal prison at sentencing.
On December 16, 2025, Rolando Alexis Bravo pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to transport children from Oklahoma to Texas where they engaged in prostitution with others. Bravo faces life in federal prison at sentencing.
In December 2025, Henry Alberto Calix-Martinez, an illegal alien, was indicted and charged with sexually exploiting a minor by producing and distributing child pornography.
In November 2025, Gavin Rivers Weisenburg and Tanner Christopher Thomas were indicted for an elaborate scheme to lead an expedition to an island in Haiti where they planned to murder the men and turn the women and children into sex slaves.
In November 2025, William Caleb Elliott, a Celina ISD teacher and coach, was indicted and charged with production of child pornography.
On October 21, 2025, John Prentice Robertson was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for paying women in the Philippines to sexually abuse their own children and produce custom-ordered child pornography for him.
On October 21, 2025, Ashley Blaine Brooks, a convicted sex offender, was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for child pornography violations.
On October 21, 2025, Trinity Snow Cassells was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison for posing online as a teen boy to communicate with minors and distribute child pornography to them.
On August 26, 2025, Traylan Xavier Mosley was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for pretending online to be an attractive teenage girl in order to entice teen boys to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Mosley then created online child porn packets which he advertised for sale to others.
In August 2025, John Matthew Emerson, a convicted felon on supervised release for a previous child pornography conviction, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with child pornography violations.
On July 30, 2025, Enrique Adrian Gomez was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for enticing two pre-teen victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create child pornography images and videos. At sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said, “The ease with which Gomez was able to communicate with the minor victims here is a reminder of the constant threat that social media applications can pose to children. Under the guise of online friendship, Gomez persuaded these children to engage in adult acts that no child should be doing, let alone be doing online. Our office is committed to stopping criminals like Gomez in their tracks, but the most important tool to stop online predators is an active and engaged parent. Nothing protects children better than a parent who sets and enforces limits on a child’s online activities and actively monitors their social media presence.”
On July 29, 2025, James Richard Rollins, a parolee, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography at his halfway house.
On July 21, 2025, Tristan Kalobbe Martin was sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison for communicating with a minor while gaming through an on-line game console and convincing the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
On June 24, 2025, Sasha Sheree Abshire was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting a pre-school age child, creating sexually explicit videos and photos of the abuse, and distributing the material online for pay.
On June 24, 2025, Fransisco Gonzalez was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor girl. Gonzalez isolated the girl from her family under the guise of taking her to church, then used her to produce sexually explicit photos and videos, which he distributed to others.
On June 18, 2025, Desnique Deshawn Herndon was sentenced to life in federal prison for trafficking multiple teen girls, some as young as 13, for commercial prostitution.
On June 5, 2025, Zachary Arzola was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for traveling from Texas to Ohio to have sex with a child.
On May 19, 2025, Corey Lamar Johnson was convicted at trial of sex trafficking violations. Johnson trafficked young women across the United States and forced them into prostitution, often brandishing firearms and violently beating them when they objected. Johnson faces life in federal prison at sentencing.
Achieving justice for victims and protecting their rights is our highest duty, and we are honored to participate in the national observance of this special week to honor victims and victim advocates.
For additional information regarding National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and resources for victims, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/.
