A 29-year-old man from the Rio Grande Valley has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for distributing videos of sexual activity involving a minor. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Rogelio Pruneda III pleaded guilty on June 2. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Pruneda to serve 108 months in prison. During the sentencing, the court heard testimony from the victim’s parent, who requested that Pruneda be held accountable and receive appropriate treatment. The court also learned that Pruneda had engaged in similar conduct with a minor relative and used that relationship to find and recruit the victim into exchanging goods for sex acts.
The court found that Pruneda attempted to obstruct justice by trying to contact witnesses during the investigation and noted the significant age difference between him and the victim.
Pruneda was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim and will serve five years of supervised release after his prison term ends. He must comply with restrictions on access to children and internet use during this period, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
Investigators determined that Pruneda used a minor relative to introduce him to the female victim, telling her he would treat her like a “sugar daddy.” Between July and October 2022, Pruneda contacted the minor through Facebook Messenger, offering money and THC vape cartridges in exchange for sexual acts which he recorded. He later sent two of these videos back to her.
The relationship came to light when the victim’s parent discovered it and reported it to authorities. The minor confirmed that videos depicted sexual acts between herself and Pruneda inside his vehicle.
“Here, Pruneda sought out a victim online and plied her with offers of money and other goods. This methodical plan demonstrates just how dangerous and calculating he is,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will do whatever it takes to protect the innocence of the children of our community and punish—to the maximum extent the law allows—those who take that innocence away.”
Pruneda remains in custody while awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The FBI conducted the investigation with help from Hidalgo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating federal, state, and local resources for prosecution as well as identifying victims (https://www.justice.gov/psc). Resources about internet safety education are available through PSC’s website (https://www.justice.gov/psc/resources-parents).
