Alfredo Gutierrez-Cantu, Child Sex Assault Material Offenses, Texas 2024

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Laredo has been charged with possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Alfredo Gutierrez-Cantu, 28, was originally charged by criminal complaint on August 21, 2023,

Alfredo Gutierrez-Cantu, a 28-year-old Mexican national, allegedly possessed, received and distributed child pornography. He is charged with possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography. The charges allege he would visit group chats where weblinks directed him towards a site with approximately 500 CSAM files, according to the indictment.

The charges further allege that Gutierrez-Cantu, who resides in Laredo, was the owner of the Google account linked to the Laredo address containing child sexual assault material. Authorities executed a search warrant and seized several electronic devices which allegedly contained several CSAM images and videos. One video depicted three minors engaged in sexual acts which he “forgot to delete” because he was too busy, according to the charges.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. If convicted, Gutierrez-Cantu faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

“The allegations, if true, demonstrate that the defendant is somebody who shouldn’t be in our country, and definitely shouldn’t be out walking the streets of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas won’t pull any punches when it comes to border security or the investigation and apprehension of those who consume child sexual abuse materials.”

Gutierrez-Cantu remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings. He is expected to make an appearance on the charges contained in the indictment in the near future before a U.S. magistrate judge in Laredo.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Laredo Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were led by the Laredo Child Exploitation Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement agencies from the Southern District of Texas, including the Laredo Police Department, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, Laredo Sector U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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