A registered Brownsville sex offender is heading to federal prison after authorities found more than 2,000 images of child sexual abuse material on his phone while he was crossing the border with an underage girl, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz.

The news release said 33-year-old Jose Jaime Baeza Jr. pleaded guilty on Aug. 5, 2025. He was sentenced on Sept. 9 to 15 years in federal prison, followed by life on supervised release.

During that time, Baeza will face strict restrictions on his access to children and the internet. The court also ordered Baeza to pay $30,000 in restitution to the victims, according to the news release.

On Jan. 17, 2024, Baeza tried to enter the United States through the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge with an underage girl. He claimed she was his sister but did not have the proper documentation to support that.

Authorities sent Baeza to secondary inspection after a records check flagged him as a registered sex offender.

Law enforcement found two cell phones and discovered a video of an 8-year-old child in a sexual situation, according to the news release. A forensic analysis of one of the phones uncovered approximately 2,177 images and 487 videos of child sexual abuse material.

Baeza will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.