A League City man, Jeffrey Scott Lacy, was sentenced on April 21 to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production, receipt, and possession of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced.
Lacy’s sentencing comes as part of ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat child sexual exploitation. The case highlights the risks posed by online platforms that can be used to solicit and distribute explicit materials involving minors.
According to the announcement, Lacy admitted in February to soliciting and purchasing livestream videos of children as young as four from individuals in the Philippines between 2017 and 2023. Investigators found that he negotiated prices for these videos and exchanged messages with someone who had access to a minor victim overseas. During a search of his residence, law enforcement seized his cell phone and laptop, which contained twenty images depicting child sexual abuse material along with multiple communications arranging for more explicit content.
Further examination revealed that Lacy discussed providing a phone in exchange for additional images and videos. He also requested live video calls showing sexual activity and expressed interest in traveling abroad for sex with a minor victim. Authorities said he repeatedly asked for more explicit images while the victim was bathing.
Lacy will remain in custody until he is transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. Upon release from prison, he will serve six years of supervised release with restrictions on contact with children and internet use; he must also register as a sex offender.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations-Galveston, Pearland Police Department, League City Police Department, and Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation crimes using coordinated resources at all levels of government.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas has included notable figures such as Alamdar Hamdani and Ryan Patrick among its former leaders according to the official history page. The office maintains locations across Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville as described on its official website. It operates under the Department of Justice serving under the Attorney General according to its official website, employs over two hundred attorneys covering forty-three counties with more than nine million residents as detailed on its official website, focuses on prosecuting federal crimes as well as handling civil cases involving government interests according to its official website, and has seen leaders such as Alamdar Hamdani serve from 2022 through 2025 as noted on its official history page.
