Carlos Salgado Velasquez, Child Sex Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography, Washington 2021

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Spokane Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Child Sex Trafficking

Spokane, Washington – Joseph H. Harrington, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Carlos Salgado Velasquez, 30, of Warden, Washington, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for child sex trafficking and production of child pornography.

On April 1, 2021, Velasquez pleaded guilty to one count of Production of Child Pornography and one count of Child Sex Trafficking. Senior United States District Judge Nielsen sentenced Velasquez to a 23-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a life term of court supervision after Velasquez is released from federal prison.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, between September 2016 and September 2018, Velasquez engaged in conduct with four minor female victims within the Eastern District of Washington that constituted both the production of child pornography and child sex trafficking, in violation of federal law. Velasquez admitted that he knowingly took part in sexually explicit conduct with the four minor victims for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the sexually explicit conduct. Velasquez also admitted that he engaged in commercial sex acts with the four minor victims by soliciting them to engage in sexual intercourse with him in exchange for things of value.

Velasquez solicited the four victims to engage in commercial sex acts with him by arranging to meet them using various internet communications platforms.

Acting United States Attorney Harrington said, “This case was pursued 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 case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Moses Lake Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Ann T. Wick, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Velasquez will serve his 23-year sentence at a federal prison to be determined by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. After his release, he will be under a life term of court supervision.

This case highlights the serious consequences of child sex trafficking and production of child pornography. The Eastern District of Washington is committed to protecting the children of our community and bringing perpetrators to justice.