Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Daniel Vincent Salazar, Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Modesto, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for his involvement in the sexual exploitation of minors. Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the sentence, which follows Salazar's conviction on five counts related to these crimes. Following his prison term, Salazar will face a 25-year supervised release period with restrictions on his access to minors, electronic devices, and the internet. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender.
Court documents reveal that between December 2018 and January 2020, Salazar used Instagram and Snapchat to contact minor females aged between 12 and 14. He coerced them into sending explicit images by threatening to distribute existing images to their peers and family if they did not comply. In one instance where a victim expressed suicidal thoughts during their conversations, Salazar responded insensitively with remarks such as “[t]hat’s on you. Not my fault,” and “[t]he cops can’t do nothing trust me.” Salazar has been detained since his arrest on January 20, 2020.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including Patterson Police Services, Los Banos and San Jose Police Departments, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Division of Adult Parole Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa led the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab for internet-safety education.
