Anthony Black, Child Pornography Distribution, New Mexico 2012

Grimy Times has learned that Anthony Black, a 28-year-old man from Mesilla Park, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges. The crimes occurred in April and October of 2012.

According to the indictment, Black distributed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on two separate occasions. He entered his guilty plea without the benefit of any plea agreement.

The investigation that led to Black’s arrest was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, in conjunction with the Las Cruces Police Department, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, the New Mexico State Police, and the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Black was initially charged with distribution of child pornography in a criminal complaint filed on November 14, 2012, in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. He was subsequently indicted in May 2013 and charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography.

During today’s plea hearing, Black pleaded guilty to both counts of the indictment. At sentencing, Black faces a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than 20 years.

Black has been in federal custody since his arrest on November 15, 2012, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the NMAGO, also received support in this case. The task force’s mission is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.

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