Roman Rodriguez, Receiving Child Pornography, California 2024

Bakersfield Man Indicted for Receiving Child Pornography

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Roman Rodriguez, 26, of Bakersfield, charging him with receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between Feb. 18, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Rodriguez used an iPhone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Rodriguez used several other devices to receive visual depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct during multiple other timeframes that began as early as October 2022.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This 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.

Roman Rodriguez, a 26-year-old man from Bakersfield, is charged with receiving and distributing child pornography. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The charges are only allegations, and Rodriguez is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/bakersfield-man-indicted-receiving-child-pornography