Vehicle Theft Investigation Leads to 33-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Production of Child Pornography

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

An Arlington resident was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison for Production of Child Pornography and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.

Court documents revealed that in late September 2024, the Bedford Police Department began investigating a theft of a truck that belonged to a business in Bedford, Texas.  A few days later, the Arlington Police Department recovered the vehicle and returned it to the owners.  Multiple bags containing cell phones and illegal firearms that belonged to Carlos Isaac Barrientos were found in the vehicle.  A forensic review of the devices by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms located images and videos of child pornography on the devices.  Barrientos, 36, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested, charged, and subsequently pled guilty to production of child pornography and illegal possession of a machinegun on April 16, 2025.  On July 24, 2025, Barrientos was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Reed O’Connor.

The investigation was conducted by the Arlington Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte prosecuted the case.