A 52-year-old man from Spring has entered a guilty plea to charges of sex trafficking of a minor. In details made public by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, John Alberth admitted to engaging in illicit activities with a 16-year-old during the period from late August to early October 2023. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Alberth's communications with the minor involved money for sexual acts and explicit photos.
John Alberth admitted paying for sexual acts and exchanging explicit images with a 16-year-old through CashApp, and that he knew the victim was underage. His arrest and plea followed an investigation by ICE – Homeland Security Investigations, the Houston Police Department, and other local agencies as part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal program against child sexual exploitation, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Alberth is scheduled for sentencing on January 30, 2026, before Judge George P. Hanks. He faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine and remains in custody until that time. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman is prosecuting the case. Resources on child sexual exploitation and internet safety are available through Project Safe Childhood and the Department of Justice, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
