Local man convicted of production of child pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas | Press Release

McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old McAllen resident has entered guilty pleas to enticement of a minor and production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Christian Hanks recorded himself with a minor victim in December 2023.

The investigation also revealed Hanks had engaged in conversation with another minor victim in the Western District of Louisiana to entice her to engage in sexual conduct with him. The investigation revealed he also engaged in sexual intercourse with the second minor victim.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez will impose sentencing Jan. 15, 2025. At that time, Hanks faces up to 30 years in federal prison for the production of child pornography and up to life for enticing the second minor victim.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations in Texas and Louisiana conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cahal P. McColgan and Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) 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 link on that page.