HOUSTON — A Houston surgeon who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

U.S. District Court Judge Lee Rosenthal on Tuesday also ordered 73-year-old Dr. Bernard Albina to pay a $75,000 fine and spend the rest of his life on probation once his sentence is completed. He also must register as a sex offender.

The sentence is the maximum the judge could impose.

Albina was arrested last year and has been in custody since then because he was considered a flight risk.

Prosecutors say Albina since 2003 inappropriately associated with several young boys and took photos of some of them. Search warrants led to discovery dozens of CDs, DVDs, video tapes and printed images containing child pornography.