McALLEN, Texas – In a harrowing tale of child exploitation and abuse, Luis Alberto Huerta, 44, of Weslaco, and Jessica Gutierrez, 47, from Donna, have been sentenced to federal prison for the production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Huerta and Gutierrez pleaded guilty on November 6, 2024, facing sentences of 360 months and 336 months respectively. The court heard chilling details of their actions at the hearing, where they were sentenced to a living hell for an innocent child victim, forced into a ‘game’ that led to continuous sexual abuse and the production of explicit material.
Both predators will serve the remainder of their lives under supervised release after completing their prison terms. The restrictions will include limitations on access to children and the internet, along with mandatory sex offender registration.
The investigation began in 2023, uncovering a three-year-long campaign of sexual abuse against a child just seven years old by Huerta and Gutierrez. Photos and videos of the assaults were discovered on their electronic devices during a search.
“Huerta and Gutierrez committed an unspeakable offense, earning every day of their multi-decade sentences,” Ganjei emphasized. “While no sentence can undo the damage to the victim, we hope this sends a clear message to those who would engage in such vile conduct.”
Aaron Tapp, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Antonio Field Office, praised the Edinburg Police Department (EPD) for their outstanding work and partnership. The joint investigation by the FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, including EPD, led to the apprehension of these child predators.
Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on PSC and internet safety education, visit the resources tab on DOJ’s PSC page.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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