Aric Matthew Salazar, Child Pornography, California 2023

Fresno Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crimes

Fresno, California - In a shocking case of digital depravity, Aric Matthew Salazar, a 36-year-old former Clovis resident, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography.

According to a criminal complaint, Salazar was detected by law enforcement investigators when he was sharing numerous child pornography files on a BitTorrent file-sharing network in October 2016. He admitted to investigating agents that he had used file-sharing programs for several years to obtain child pornography.

In a plea agreement, Salazar admitted to receiving and distributing over 600 images of child pornography from at least July 2015 through July 2017. Some of the images depicted minors being subjected to violence or sadistic conduct.

The sentence imposed includes a term of supervised release of 15 years, during which Salazar's access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. He will also be required to register as a sex offender, pay restitution of $12,000 to five victims who filed claims, and pay penalty assessments totaling $5,100.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.

This 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.

Aric Matthew Salazar, 36, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography. He will serve a term of supervised release of 15 years and must register as a sex offender.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/former-clovis-resident-sentenced-10-years-prison-receipt-and-distribution-child