Ex-Texas Deputy Salas Gets 18+ Years for Child Exploitation

WORCESTER, MA – A disgraced former Texas law enforcement officer is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of preying on vulnerable children online and subjecting them to years of terror. Pasquale T. Salas, 26, a/k/a Gino, previously a deputy sheriff with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, was sentenced today in federal court to 220 months in prison and five years of supervised release. The charges: sexual exploitation of a minor and relentless cyberstalking.

According to federal prosecutors, Salas didn’t just stumble into victimhood; he actively sought it out. He initially connected with his first victim through an online video game website in 2014, when the girl was just 12 years old. What began as seemingly harmless online communication quickly devolved into a pattern of soliciting sexually explicit images and videos. But the exploitation didn’t stop there. Starting as early as 2016, Salas began to weaponize fear, threatening to expose the victim’s images to her family and friends if she didn’t comply with his demands.

“The defendant was an online predator disguised in a law enforcement uniform,” declared United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “He used the internet to gain the trust of vulnerable children and then turned around and exploited their innocence and played on their fears.” The sentencing, Lelling stated, is a “warning to others” and a measure to ensure Salas can no longer inflict harm. Investigators found at least one video on Salas’ phone of the minor performing sexually explicit acts he’d coerced her into, a grim testament to the extent of his depravity.

The scope of Salas’ crimes extended beyond one victim. He also targeted a second Massachusetts minor, initiating contact through the same website. For four years, from age 12 to 16, Salas manipulated and coerced this second girl into sending him sexually explicit images, even demanding her social media credentials to monitor her activity. He doubled down on the intimidation tactics, flashing photos of himself in a police car with a gun, falsely claiming connections with Massachusetts law enforcement who would discredit her if she ever came forward.

“Child predators often wear many disturbing disguises in our communities, and Pasquale Salas is no exception,” stated Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “As a deputy sheriff, he betrayed his oath and abused the trust that was placed in him. Instead of protecting children, he exploited children for his own sexual gratification.” Bonavolonta emphasized the courage of the victims who came forward, allowing authorities to bring Salas to justice.

The investigation, which led to Salas’ arrest and subsequent conviction, was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the Worcester County Police Departments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the FBI Houston Field Office, the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, and the Worcester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to protecting children from exploitation and abuse. This case serves as a stark reminder that predators can hide in plain sight, and that vigilance and collaboration are crucial in safeguarding vulnerable children.