Thomas Henry Lopez, Sexual Exploitation of Children, California 2024

FRESNO, Calif. — Thomas Henry Lopez, 49, of Spring, Texas, has been charged with sex crimes against minors. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Lopez on September 3, 2024, charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor.

According to court documents, between June 2024 and July 2024, Lopez contacted two minors in California through TikTok and then communicated with them through text messages and the encrypted application JusTalk. Lopez purported to be a 12-year-old male from Texas and requested that the victims create and then send to him still and video images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Lopez faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the counts of sexual exploitation of children, and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted of the transfer of obscene material to a minor count, Lopez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, principally the Kingsburg, California Police Department. Lopez is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Houston, Texas, on September 13, 2024.

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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

Lopez’s arrest and indictment are a result of a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies to protect children from online predators. The FBI and the Kingsburg Police Department commend the victims for their bravery in coming forward and for helping to bring Lopez to justice.

As this case demonstrates, the consequences of sex crimes against minors can be severe. If convicted, Lopez faces a lengthy prison sentence and significant fines. The community can rest assured that law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute those who engage in such heinous crimes.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/texas-man-indicted-sexual-exploitation-children-offenses