Gonzalez, Texas resident Anika Bywater, 29, was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release on Friday, March 22, 2026, for conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a child in a foreign country. Bywater pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025, to the charge.
Court documents reveal Bywater resided in Veracruz, Mexico, at the time of the offenses. She and an accomplice created two videos depicting the sexual abuse of a minor victim, with footage showing the victim attempting to escape but being restrained by Bywater. The abuse came to light after the videos were discovered circulating online.
The investigation began when law enforcement officials located the disturbing content online. Bywater’s actions violated federal laws prohibiting the conspiracy to commit sexual abuse of a child outside of the United States.
The sentencing was announced by officials from the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, with assistance from the FBI’s Mexico City and Washington Field Offices.
Source: Department of Justice