Gabriel Alejandro Morales, Child Pornography, Texas 2020

Child Pornography Charges Rock McAllen Community

Gabriel Alejandro Morales, a 27-year-old McAllen resident, has pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography via the Kik application, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The disturbing case has left many in the community reeling.

According to authorities, Morales admitted to downloading and receiving child pornography on his cell phone through the Kik application. The investigation, led by the FBI, began in November 2020, after authorities learned that an individual under the username “wakatanga335” was distributing and receiving child pornography on Kik.

A review of the material verified that the user had distributed and received child pornography approximately nine times. The investigation ultimately led to Morales, who was subsequently arrested and charged with the crime.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Morales’ McAllen home and discovered a cell phone containing child pornography. The disturbing evidence was seized as part of the investigation.

Morales has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which is set for June 21. At that time, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The harsh sentence is a stark reminder of the severity of child pornography charges.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims.

The Grimy Times condemns the heinous crime of child pornography and urges anyone with information to come forward and report suspicious activity to the authorities. The safety and well-being of our children is of the utmost importance, and we must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect them from predators like Morales.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with the assistance of local law enforcement. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of online safety and the need for individuals to be cautious when using social media and other online platforms.

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