Estefano Gerardo Lopez, Production of Child Pornography, North Carolina 2026

Child Predator Sentenced to 27 Years Behind Bars

In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Estefano Gerardo Lopez, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for producing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. handed down the sentence in a federal court in Charlotte.

Lopez’s crimes date back to 2015, when he pleaded guilty in Cumberland County Superior Court to soliciting a minor by computer. He met a 12-year-old victim online and traveled to Fayetteville, N.C. to meet the minor, where he was arrested by law enforcement. Despite being sentenced to probation, Lopez’s troubles didn’t end there.

In 2015, Lopez’s probation officer conducted a warrantless search at his residence, accompanied by officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. During the search, law enforcement found images of child pornography hidden in a password-protected phone application on Lopez’s cell phone. Additional child pornography was discovered on his computer, including videos of Lopez sexually abusing a young child.

Lopez’s chats with minors on the KIK messenger app revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior. He identified himself as a teenage boy and solicited pornography images from minors. The chats also revealed that Lopez sent pornographic pictures of a minor, which he pretended was him.

Lopez pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in February 2018 and is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation into this heinous crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cortney Randall prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of child predators and the importance of holding them accountable for their crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as more information becomes available.

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