Fresno Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Multiple Children Through Social Media Apps
A Fresno man was sentenced to 55 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office on June 14, 2026. Jacob Blanco, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty in May 2020 to sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of material involving sexual exploitation of minors. According to court documents, Blanco’s activities were discovered in March 2017 when the parents of a then six-year-old discovered the child had communicated with and created sexually explicit images at the request of another user on the social media application Musical.ly (now TikTok).
Blanco used various methods of deception and enticement, including by pretending to be a modeling agent or to be a minor himself. He had communicated with at least 50 minors and asked for and received sexually explicit images from many of them using Snapchat, Kik, Musical.ly, and other applications. The parents of the victim discovered the explicit images and contacted law enforcement, who subsequently identified Blanco as the perpetrator.
Blanco’s residence and digital devices were searched, and investigators discovered that he had successfully persuaded and coerced multiple minors to produce sexually explicit material. The case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa and Trial Attorney Nadia C. Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The abuse and exploitation of children is deeply cruel, violating the trust and safety of victims which generates trauma that may never fully heal. Jacob Blanco used social media to target and manipulate young children, and his sentence serves as a reminder of the dangers of the internet for children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the investigative and prosecution teams for their success in removing a dangerous child predator from the community.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also commended the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. The case highlights the importance of monitoring children’s online activity and reporting any suspicious behavior to the authorities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect children from predators like Jacob Blanco.
Defendant Name: Jacob Blanco
Exact Criminal Charges: Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Receipt and Distribution of Material Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors
City and State: Fresno, California
Exact Date: Sentenced on June 14, 2026 (pleaded guilty in May 2020)
Sentence: 55 years in prison
Company/Entity Involved: None
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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