Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Headline: Two Men Sentenced to Lengthy Sentences for Child Pornography Charges Involving Two Minor Victims, One a 3-Year-Old Child
DALLAS — Javier Giovanni Araujo, 34, of Austin, Texas, and Garrett Alexander Mack, 29, of Dallas, Texas, were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to lengthy prison sentences for child pornography offenses, announced Erin Nealy Cox, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Araujo previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography. Chief Judge Lynn sentenced Araujo to 40 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release.
Mack previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography. Chief Judge Lynn sentenced Mack to 30 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release.
According to the factual resumes filed in the case and information presented at the sentencing hearing, from at least September 26, 2016 through October 7, 2016, Araujo and Mack discussed sexually abusing children and exchanged photos and videos of child pornography. Araujo produced videos and images of child pornography by using a three-year-old boy to which he had access. Araujo and Mack discussed the logistics of how they could gain access to this boy and the ways that Araujo could sexually abuse him. Araujo then sent some of those child pornography images and videos involving the boy to other men on the internet, including to Mack.
According to information presented at the sentencing hearing, Araujo, pretending to be a church youth group leader, gained access to another minor child and coerced him into engaging in sexual acts with Araujo. Araujo recorded this sexual abuse and sent at least one child pornography video of the abuse to Mack.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood leverages federal, state and local resources to better investigate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children. Project Safe Childhood also prioritizes identifying and rescuing victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dallas Police Department, and the Austin Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie L. Hoxie prosecuted.
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