Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Javier Robert Barraza, a 43-year-old resident of Oroville, has entered a guilty plea to charges of sexual exploitation of a child. The plea was announced on April 18, 2025, by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that Barraza engaged in acts of paying multiple women to sexually abuse young boys during video calls, which he recorded for his sexual gratification. These recordings contributed to his collection of over 1,000 videos and images of child pornography, stored on his devices. Barraza also distributed this content via internet sharing platforms and text messages.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with support from the Redding Police Department, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Forest Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica M.A. Alegría is handling the prosecution.
Barraza's sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2025, under U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and a potential maximum of 30 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account various statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, aimed at addressing the rise in child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative combines efforts of federal, state, and local resources to pursue individuals involved in these crimes and to assist victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
