Corpus Christi resident sentenced for receiving child sexual abuse material

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 46-year-old woman has been ordered to federal prison after exchanging child pornography over the internet, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Melissa Sillers pleaded guilty Jan. 28.

U.S. District Judge David Morales has now sentenced Sillers to 156 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information regarding multiple online conversations Sillers had with different people during which she exchanged child sexual abuse material. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the increased harm that comes from those actively distributing this kind of material and the perpetual revictimization that occurs from it. Sillers will serve 15 years on supervised release following the completion of her prison term. During that time, she will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet. She will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

The investigation into Sillers began Oct. 4, 2022, when authorities discovered CSAM had been uploaded onto the internet. Law enforcement was able to identify Sillers as the source of the content.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for Sillers's residence. They located and seized her cell phone.

A forensic examination revealed conversations between Sillers and various others during which they discussed sexual fantasies involving children and exchanged CSAM. The examination showed Sillers had distributed the material a month before her arrest.

Sillers has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ's PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.