The owner of a small Airline company owner in Brownsville had been arrested by federal officials in a child pornography case.
U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcment (ICE) agents arrested 60-year-old Robert L. Hedrick at his Brownsville home on Monday.
Hedrick is the owner and president of the Brownsville-based Pan American Airways.
Investigators told Action 4 News that ICE agents filed a criminal complainst against Hedrick with a criminal complaint for distribution of child pornography on Friday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges that Hedrick used a chat room to share images of child pornography with undercover investigators in Louisiana and Wisconsin between September and November 2010.
Hedrick remains in custody without bond and is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Felix Recio on Tuesday morning.
Distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum punishment of five years incarceration up to 20 years.
Fines of up to $250,000 can also be imposed upon conviction for each offense.
Each offense carries a maximum life term of supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and requires registration as a sex offender.
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