A Virginia man has been convicted for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while under court-ordered supervision, following a previous conviction for similar offenses.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division stated, “This defendant continued to sexually exploit children online while on court-ordered supervision, following an earlier conviction for similar conduct. Thanks to the tireless efforts and enduring dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, this defendant has been held accountable for his continued exploitation of children and now faces a fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence.”
U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia commented, “Following his previous conviction for child sexual abuse material, Antonio Gonzalez knew what he was doing was illegal and knew the consequences. Instead of embracing a respect for the law and the vulnerable lives it protects, Gonzalez returned to his previous crimes with no regards for those harmed by sexual exploitation. We will tirelessly prosecute anyone engaging in these detestable crimes, and we will continue to pursue anyone who refuses to reform.”
Court documents show that in April 2024, law enforcement began investigating reports of CSAM distribution on Kik, a mobile messaging platform. The investigation identified Antonio Rudy Gonzalez, 41, from Alexandria, as having sent numerous explicit images involving children—including toddlers—to other users on Kik. Chat records included statements about his criminal preferences. Gonzalez had previously been convicted in 2013 in the Eastern District of Virginia for distributing child pornography.
After a bench trial, Gonzalez was found guilty on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession related to his actions in 2024. Sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2026. Because this is a repeat offense, he faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years and could receive up to 40 years; sentencing will be determined by a federal judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe from the Eastern District of Virginia.
The FBI Washington Field Office led the investigation.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
