Grimy Times Exclusive
OKLAHOMA CITY – In a shocking turn of events, Michael Rios, 42, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography on June 3, 2024. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, Rios utilized an online encrypted messaging service to share child pornography. After executing a court-authorized federal search warrant, FBI agents discovered a large library of child pornography on Rios’s phone.
Rios’s guilty plea comes as a result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI Oklahoma Field Office, which has been working tirelessly to bring those responsible for the exploitation of minors to justice. The investigation, which began in January 2024, revealed that Rios was actively sharing child pornography with others online.
At sentencing, Rios faces no less than five years and up to 40 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon is prosecuting the case, and Rios’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against child exploitation.
But Rios is not the only one to face charges in this case. Jimmy Ray Pierce, 68, of Elgin, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to possession of material containing child pornography on June 6, 2024. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, in January 2024, Pierce uploaded child pornography to Facebook. While executing a court-authorized search warrant, law enforcement located on his cell phone multiple videos and images depicting child pornography.
Pierce faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz is prosecuting the case. Meanwhile, Ronnie Gene Hazelwood, 44, of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender on June 3, 2024. According to public record, Hazelwood was previously convicted of possession of child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender in the Northern District of Oklahoma, case number 15-CR-049.
Hazelwood faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz is prosecuting the case. The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Related Federal Cases
- Oklahoma Man Gets 6 Years for Transporting Child Porn · Arkansas
- Edmond Predator Gets 15-Year Sentence for Child Porn & Sextortion · Oklahoma
- Ardmore Drug Kingpin Lee Sentenced to Over Seven Years · Oklahoma
- Sallisaw Drug Kingpin Gets Decade Behind Bars · Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Exploitation · Colorado
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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