Illinois Teacher Charged Over Child Pornography on June 17 Mexico Flight, Facing 5-Year Minimum
Updated
Updated · NBC Chicago · Jun 26
Illinois Teacher Charged Over Child Pornography on June 17 Mexico Flight, Facing 5-Year Minimum
3 articles · Updated · NBC Chicago · Jun 26
Summary
Federal prosecutors charged Thomas Neal, 42, with transporting child pornography after authorities said he carried illicit images and videos on a June 17 flight from Chicago to Mexico City.
Mexican border officials flagged Neal for secondary screening at Benito Juárez airport, saw suspected child pornography on his phone, and seized his phone, luggage, two laptops and six storage devices.
HSI agents searched those belongings after Neal was returned to Houston and said they found several hundred files constituting child pornography, according to the criminal complaint.
One federal count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years; Neal remains in custody ahead of a detention hearing Monday in Chicago.