FRESNO, Calif. - Ernest Garza Reyes, 32, of Madera, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to eight years in prison for distributing child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, from July 2, 2011, through Dec. 1, 2011, Reyes sent and received over 200 email messages that contained over 2,800 images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images also involved the portrayal of sadistic and masochistic violence, and included depictions of prepubescent minors. Reyes was charged with receiving or distributing child pornography on May 9, 2013, and pleaded guilty to this charge on September 8, 2014.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task force, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Brian W. Enos prosecuted the case.
“Today’s sentencing is another victory in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children," said Ray Greenlee, assistant special agent in charge for HSI Sacramento. “Homeland Security Investigations works tirelessly with its law enforcement counterparts, including the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, to identify those who prey on innocent children and hold them accountable for their actions."
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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources" tab for information about Internet safety education.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
