Source: Office of United States Attorneys
LAREDO, Texas –A 25-year-old Laredo resident has entered a guilty plea to receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Eduardo Rosas admitted to receiving and possessing numerous images and video files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his iPhone.
The investigation began after authorities learned someone had uploaded CSAM onto a Kik account. Rosas was the owner of that account.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence, at which time they seized several electronic devices including an Apple iPhone 11. Rosas admitted to owning the Kik account and the phone.
Forensic analysis revealed 43 images, 99 videos files and 85 thumbnail files, all depicting CSAM. Some of the material depicted bondage, infants, bestiality and sadistic material.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Rosas faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.