Seth Herrera, Child Pornography Offenses, Texas 2024

Federal Charges for Army Soldier in Child Pornography Case

A federal grand jury has indicted 35-year-old U.S. Army soldier Seth Herrera of El Paso, Texas, with attempted sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of files depicting child sexual abuse. This is not the first time Herrera has faced charges relating to child pornography, as he is already charged in Alaska for his alleged transportation, receipt, and possession of such material.

According to court documents, Herrera allegedly used encrypted messaging applications and network applications to find, receive, and download child sexual abuse material over the course of multiple years, beginning in 2021. He also allegedly used artificial intelligence chatbots to generate images using images of children he knew. Furthermore, Herrera is alleged to have surreptitiously taken images and videos of those same children undressing in his home in El Paso.

The investigation into Herrera’s activities was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret F. Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced the indictment. Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory J. Rasmussen for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

Herrera’s case is part of a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, known as Project Safe Childhood. This initiative, launched in May 2006, marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Project Safe Childhood aims to protect children from the devastating effects of child pornography and online exploitation. The initiative brings together law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers to combat this complex and ever-evolving threat.

Herrera’s indictment serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in the fight against child exploitation. As this case moves forward, the community can expect to see continued efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and protect children from harm.

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