A federal judge sentenced a former Hidalgo County jailer to five years and three months in prison in a child pornography case.
Francisco Cantu appeared for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Hinojosa in McAllen late Monday afternoon.
The 36-year-old Edinburg man pleaded guilty in May 2007 to purchasing membership to a child pornography website back in early 2005.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office told Action 4 News that Cantu downloaded 3,500 images and 50 videos that showed pornography of children from ages four to 10 years old.
Several images depicted children less than 2 years old being sexually assaulted.
Prosecutors said authorities were able to identify numerous victims in his collection.
Judge Hinojosa sentenced Cantu to 63 months in federal prison as well as requiring him to register as a sex offender.
The 36-year-old Edinburg man must serve five years probation after his release from prison and pay $1,750 dollars in restitution to two known victims shown in the images.
Cantu has been in jail since his October 2006 arrest.
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