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Amarillo Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material
A 46-year-old Amarillo man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Willie Gonzales was indicted in December 2023 and pleaded guilty in April 2024 to production of child pornography. He was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to 300 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
According to plea papers, in the fall of 2022, Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safetyacting off a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Childrenacted to conduct a search warrant at Mr. Gonzales’ home, where they found an iPhone containing sexually explicit images of a 10-year-old girl.
A forensic examination of the phone revealed that Mr. Gonzales persuaded the child to send him photos and videos of herself. At sentencing, the judge noted that Mr. Gonzales had posed on Snapchat as a 14-year-old boy in order to entice his victim.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Frausto prosecuting the case.
Mr. Gonzales’ sentence is a stark reminder of the severity of the crime of producing child sexual abuse material. The production and distribution of such material is a serious offense that can have devastating consequences for victims and their families.
As a society, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect children from exploitation and abuse. The prosecution of cases like this one sends a clear message that those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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