GALVESTON, Texas — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston investigation has led to the sentencing of a Texas man for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Anthony Joseph Kiamar, 34, of Texas City, was ordered to serve concurrent 180-month and 120-month sentences for the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. He pleaded guilty Nov. 20, 2023.
“When predators distribute images and videos of children being sexually exploited online, they condemn their victims to a lifetime of confronting the permanent, widespread circulation of their abuse in their darkest hours,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson. “This type of behavior is a societal epidemic, and HSI, alongside our partners at the Houston Police Department, will daily dedicate our time and resources to stopping this vile behavior.”
At the hearing, the court also heard excerpts of a victim impact statement detailing the ongoing harm the dissemination of these child sexual abuse images and videos caused. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the seriousness of the crime and Kiamar’s history and characteristics. Kiamar was further ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he must comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Kiamar will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation began after authorities discovered Kiamar had been distributing child sexual abuse material in 2019 using the Facebook Messenger platform. Prior to seizing his electronic devices, law enforcement also found he had engaged in an indecent assault against a minor victim. He was convicted of those offenses.
As part of the federal investigation, authorities conducted a forensic examination of his devices and uncovered 27 images and 44 videos of child sexual abuse, some depicting all forms of sexual abuse of children. Several of the identified victims were as young as three.
Kiamar will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
This case was investigated by HSI Houston with assistance from the Houston Metro Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lu prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, which combats the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.