A Davenport man has been indicted for possession of child sexual abuse material, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Mauricio Flores, 36, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The indictment states that the government intends to seize a cellphone allegedly used in connection with the offense.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Flores’s home as part of an inquiry into activity on a dark web site focused on child sexual abuse material. Authorities say they found files containing such material on a cellphone belonging to Flores.
"An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty," the release stated.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Muriel Moore will prosecute the case.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, which was established by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative brings together resources from various levels of law enforcement to find and prosecute those who exploit children and to help victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
