Joel Damian Ortega, Child Sex Abuse, California 2025

FRESNO, Calif. — In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Joel Damian Ortega, a 36-year-old Merced County man, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material. This severe sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on Thursday.

According to court documents, Ortega used his Samsung Galaxy smartphone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct between January 26, 2024, and July 7, 2024. Furthermore, on April 2, 2024, Ortega used an iPhone to receive at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Ortega pleaded guilty to the charges on June 23, 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.

The harsh sentence handed down to Ortega serves as a warning to those who engage in similar crimes. As the fight against child exploitation continues, it is crucial that law enforcement and the community work together to protect our children and bring perpetrators to justice.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the ‘resources’ tab for information about internet-safety education.

As a community, we must remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The safety and well-being of our children are of utmost importance, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their protection.

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