GRIMY NEWS – The grimy streets of Monterey have been hit with a major sex crime charge. Federal authorities are going after 29-year-old Samuel Rios, who’s accused of producing and distributing child sexual abuse materials. The Monterey native was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts related to child exploitation.
Rios is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, production of child pornography, distribution of child porn, and possession of child porn. He’s said to have used Snapchat to lure two minors into sexual encounters between July 2023 and May 2024.
The grim details of the case emerged when an anonymous therapist reported Rios for sexually assaulting a child in May 2024. Since then, Rios has been locked up in federal custody, awaiting his day in court on July 28th.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian and HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan led the announcement of these shocking charges against Rios. The maximum sentence for the offenses he faces is life in prison, a chilling thought for Monterey residents who now have to face this dark chapter in their community.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Ellis James Jr. will be leading the prosecution with help from Natachiana Burney. This investigation was a collaborative effort between HSI, the Monterey Police Department, and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Anybody with information on this case or who believes they were victimized by Rios is urged to come forward.
For those wishing to report their knowledge to authorities, contact HSI at HSISanJose@dhs.gov or call (877) 477-4847. Let’s keep the grimy truth out in the open for this alleged predator.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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