El Paso FBI special agent in charge John Morales talks recent accomplishments
El Paso FBI special agent in charge John Morales talks about recent agency accomplishments on May 15, 2025, at the El Paso Federal Justice Center.
- Mark Martinez, 57, of Anthony, Texas, was sentenced to life plus 10 years for child pornography distribution.
- Martinez, a registered sex offender, was found with over 2,300 illicit photos and 138 videos.
A previously convicted El Paso-area child molester was sentenced to life plus 10 years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography, including taking illicit photos at his home in Anthony, Texas, court documents stated.
Mark Martinez, 57, was described in a statement by FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John S. Morales as a “dangerous child predator” in a case highlighting “the disturbing reality of sexual exploitation.”
FBI agents with the Violent Crimes Against Children Squad found more than 2,300 photos and 138 videos of child sexual abuse material, known as CSAM, on a computer tablet and two cell phones, according to criminal complaint filed by an FBI agent.
Martinez was sentenced on Monday, June 30, in federal court in El Paso after pleading guilty last August to five counts of producing, possessing and exchanging child sex abuse material, sex offender registration violations and committing a sex crime as a registered sex offender, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said in a statement.
In 1991, Martinez was convicted of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy, was sent to state prison, released and was required to register as a sex offender, according to Texas public sex offender registry and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Child porn case goes as far back as 2020
An FBI complaint affidavit stated that an online child pornography investigation had flagged a person, later identified as Martinez, as far back as 2020.
In March 2020, the FBI learned that an undercover law enforcement operation flagged a person using the moniker “naughty_daddy4young” suspected of receiving and sharing child porn on the Kik messaging service, the complaint stated.
In January 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received information that a person was attempting to solicit nude photos from a juvenile in Colorado from a phone number traced to Martinez, the FBI complaint stated.
FBI agents search homes in Anthony, Texas
The investigation found that Martinez lived on Kelwood Street and from time to time lived with his mother on 3rd Street, both homes are in Anthony, Texas, the complaint stated.
On Aug. 26, 2022, FBI agents served search warrants at both locations, seizing two cell phones and a computer tablet belonging to Martinez, where the CSAM was found during an extensive forensic search in October, the complaint stated.
One of the cell phones contained several pornographic photos of a girl, about 5 to 6 years old, which had been taken the previous month (July) at the home on 3rd Street, the complaint stated. The photos had geolocation information matching the home and an ornate patterned rug in the background in a photo matched a rug in the main living area of the house.
The digital devices also included files with downloaded videos of young girls being raped, the complaint stated. One device also contained Telegram messaging chats were Martinez admitted to sexually molesting a child, authorities said.
The child’s connection to Martinez, if any, was not explained in the complaint.
Child porn suspect arrested at New Mexico border
In October 2022, a warrant for Martinez’s arrest was issued, but by that time he had already left to Mexico without reporting to his registration officer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in statement.
When Martinez returned to the U.S., he was arrested at the border port of entry in Columbus, New Mexico, on March 3, 2023. He had been held at the El Paso County Jail since that time.
“Placing this child predator behind bars for the rest of his life makes certain this predator will never again harm another child,” U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas said in a statement.
“The facts of this case are incredibly disturbing,” Simmons said. “And I thank all of our law enforcement partners for their work investigating this case, which led to this repeat offender’s ultimate conviction, and life imprisonment.”
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
