38-Year-Old ‘Santa Claus’ Convicted of Distributing Child Pornography

In a shocking case, Reynaldo Ramirez, a 38-year-old Corpus Christi man who worked as a Santa Claus impersonator, has pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography.

According to the U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Ramirez was arrested on December 24, 2015, on a criminal complaint.

The investigation began when a detective with the Corpus Christi Police Department was able to download various files containing child pornography from an IP address associated with Ramirez. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was contacted to assist in the investigation.

During a search of Ramirez’s residence, authorities seized several digital devices and found a Santa Claus costume. Ramirez admitted to viewing child pornography for approximately six years and downloading over 1,000 images ranging from toddlers to pre-teens.

Ramirez also admitted to sexually assaulting a four-year-old child. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos accepted the guilty plea and set sentencing for August 10, 2016. Ramirez faces a minimum of five to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Ramirez has been in custody since his arrest and will remain pending his sentencing. The charges against Ramirez are the result of an investigation conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with the assistance of HSI.

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.