Rogelio Pruneda III, Child Sex Exploitation, Texas 2024

A 26-year-old man from Hidalgo, Texas has been charged with coercion of a minor and production of child pornography.

Rogelio Pruneda III, 26, is set to appear in federal court on charges of coercion of a minor and production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Pruneda is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis at 2 p.m.

According to the charges, Pruneda began communicating via social media with a minor female, offering money and THC vape cartridges in exchange for sexual acts.

Pruneda allegedly convinced the minor female to meet locally, at which time Pruneda created two videos of the minor female performing oral sex on him.

The charges allege Pruneda exchanged messages recognizing the minor female’s age and discussed sexual activity with the minor female.

Pruneda allegedly met up with the female on two more occasions at a family-owned auto shop and a residence where he engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor.

In one instance Pruneda brought THC cartridges in exchange for sex, according to the charges.

Shortly thereafter, law enforcement took Pruneda into custody.

At the time of his detention hearing, the court found him to be a danger to community and ordered held in custody pending future criminal proceedings.

The FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Brostowin is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/texan-indicted-producing-pornography-16-year-old