Austin’s Jonathan Ruiz-Correa, 29, has been swept up in a harrowing tale of online sexual exploitation. According to court documents, Ruiz-Correa, operating under the alias ‘Lucas’ and claiming to be 17, initiated conversations with a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat in May. The allegations are grim: he is accused of knowing her age and engaging in explicit chats, including requests for sexually explicit videos which she eventually sent. Ruiz-Correa also allegedly offered to pay for the girl’s travel to meet him and made payments via PayPal. The exploitation didn’t stop there; chats were also conducted on Instagram.
The girl’s real age was uncovered when she discovered Ruiz-Correa’s attempts to communicate with another female follower. She shared a video found on his dating app profile, which led to the investigation. Agents seized a phone containing explicit material of her and another minor, along with footage of an encounter in Houston last January.
Charged with sexual exploitation of children and engaging in activities relating to child pornography, Ruiz-Correa faces decades behind bars if convicted. The federal charges carry sentences ranging from 15 to 30 years for the first count and five to 20 years for the second. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons announced the charges.
The FBI is leading the investigation into this chilling case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Devlin prosecuting it. The charges stem from Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative targeting online child exploitation.
While criminal complaints are mere allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, Ruiz-Correa’s arrest has sent shockwaves through Austin’s community. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world and the need for vigilance against predators who exploit children online.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Child Abuse
- Source: Official Source ↗
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