During Monday’s sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Alia Moses also ordered that Splawn be placed on supervised release for a period of ten years after completing his prison term.
On July 28, 2016, Splawn pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, on December 9, 2015, HSI launched its investigation after making contact online with the defendant who was actively seeking minor females for sex. During the investigation, while Splawn was chatting and texting online, he sent by email five videos containing child pornography to an undercover agent.
On December 19, 2015, HSI agents, with assistance from the Hondo Police Department, arrested Splawn without incident. He has remained in federal custody since.
“These HSI investigations help protect children by taking child predators off the internet and off the streets by putting them behind bars," said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio. "Targeting these crimes against children is a high priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate our law enforcement resources to identify and bring to justice child predators who traumatize and victimize children."
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew H. Watters prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.