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Date: 07-05-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 3:20-cr-00065-DCG
Judge: David C. Guaderrama
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: El Paso, Texas sex trafficking a minor and possession of child porn charges criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant.
Travis Wayne Vavra, age 59, and a long haul truck driver was charged for transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and of possession of child pornography.
Evidence presented during trial revealed that Vavra was a long-haul truck driver who advertised free amusement park passes and cross-country trips for boys to explore the United States. As a result of the advertisement, Vavra transported a minor in his tractor trailer from the El Paso, Texas area to different states, including New Mexico, Missouri, Arizona, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Louisiana from May 2015 to June 2019. Vavra sexually assaulted the minor during these cross-country trips which began when the victim was nine years old. Vavra had also previously molested two other victims. On the date of his arrest, Vavra posted another flyer for parents and boys advertising these free cross-country trips. Vavra was found to be in possession of child sexual abuse material on his phone at the time of his arrest.
Vavra remains in federal custody. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life in federal prison on the transportation of minors charge and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession of child pornography. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Coburn made today’s announcement.
The FBI investigated and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Valenzuela and Richard Watts are prosecuting this case.
18:2423(a)-Transportation of Minors
(1)
18:2423(a)-Transportation of Minors with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity
(1s)
18:2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2) Possession of a Visual Depiction Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Prepubescent/Under 12 Years of Age)
(2s)
Outcome: Defendant was found guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: