Cypress resident sent to prison for 45 years after soliciting nearly 2 dozen minors for pornographic images

HOUSTON - A 42-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for multiple convictions involving the victimization of children for more than 10 years, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Patrick Tran pleaded guilty Oct. 25, 2025, to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Tran to a total of 540 months in federal prison.

At the hearing, the court heard Tran had enticed 23 different minor victims on a video chat site into taking off their clothes and screen recorded it. He then used the videos to extort them into sending additional material and threatened to expose or harm the victims. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the numerous victim impact statements and testimony of one of the victims. One victim explained how Tran made her feel like an object - one he abused physically and mentally without even touching her. The victim also disclosed that she had contemplated suicide, thinking that was her only way out of the nightmare.

Tran was furthered ordered to pay over $108,000 in restitution to one of the victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Tran will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Tran admitted he victimized minors online for more than 10 years. He created online profiles to contact victims and used knowledge of their locations and contacts to blackmail and extort them.

The investigation began in October 2020 when a relative reported suspicious communications indicating Tran had directed a minor to send him nude photos.

Forensic analysis of the victim's device revealed chats in which Tran solicited photos and videos. He threatened to post a video unless the victim sent additional images. Tran also directed how she should position herself and what to show. Feeling threatened and scared, the victim complied.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tran's residence and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination revealed approximately 650 videos depicting minors, some under the age of 10, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Tran will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI - Houston conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Luis Batarse 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.