Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Corpus Christi Man in Custody for Multiple Sexual Exploitation Charges
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 30-year-old Corpus Christi man has been charged with multiple child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Matthew Joseph Lucio is set to appear in federal court before B. Janice Ellington at 2:00 p.m. today.
He is charged with two counts of online solicitation and two counts of production of child pornography.
According to the criminal complaint filed Feb. 16, in November 2017, authorities received information that Lucio allegedly solicited a minor female via an internet messaging application for sexual intercourse. Law enforcement identified the minor female who confirmed the abuse, according to the charges. Days later, law enforcement received another report that Lucio allegedly solicited a different minor female via an internet messaging application for sexual intercourse. The complaint alleges authorities identified the second minor female who also confirmed the abuse.
The charges indicate that law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Lucio’s residence, after which agents seized several digital devices and located narcotics. Forensic analysis of the devices led to the discovery of videos depicting the sexual assault of two different minor females, according to the complaint. Both minor females were located and also confirmed the alleged abuse.
The complaint further indicates that Lucio allegedly drugged all four minor females before they were sexually assaulted
If convicted, Lucio faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the online solicitation of a minor charges and a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years for production of child pornography. Lucio also faces a possible $250,000 maximum fine on each charge, if convicted.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law