CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Justin Ryan Serna, 28, of Corpus Christi, has been arrested following the return of an indictment alleging he produced child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Serna was taken into custody today and is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janice Ellington at 2:00 p.m.
The indictment, returned yesterday, alleges authorities discovered electronic images on a notebook computer of a juvenile female engaged in a sexual act. After further investigation, law enforcement learned Serna allegedly enticed the juvenile female to engage in the sexually explicit conduct with the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the activities, according to the indictment.
If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison as well as possible $250,000 fine.
The charges are the result of the investigative efforts of the Homeland Security Investigations and the Corpus Christi Police Department.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
