Alexander M.M. Uballez U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
A U.S. Army soldier, Victor Barnett Lane, has been charged with multiple federal sex crimes involving a minor. The charges include interstate travel for sexual conduct and the production of child sexual abuse material. This follows an investigation by federal authorities.
The indictment claims that between November 2022 and May 2024, Lane allegedly coerced a minor into sexual activity, traveled from South Korea to New Mexico for this purpose, and produced imagery related to child sexual abuse.
Lane is currently in custody awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with support from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division and Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online while also working to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
