An Albuquerque resident, Julian Alcantar Rodriguez, 35, has been charged in federal court with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The charges stem from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Albuquerque that began in August 2025 after multiple reports of online child sexual exploitation were linked to Rodriguez between October 2021 and July 2025.
According to investigators, the activity involved several social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Google. Authorities identified Rodriguez as the person behind the accounts used for distributing illegal material.
On January 22, 2026, HSI executed a search warrant at Rodriguez’s home in Southwest Albuquerque. During the search, agents recovered a cellphone containing numerous images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.
Rodriguez faces charges for distribution and possession of child pornography. He will remain in custody until his trial date is set. If convicted on these charges, he could face a prison sentence ranging from five to twenty years.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, announced the charges.
The case was investigated by HSI Albuquerque with support from the New Mexico Department of Justice and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting this case under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
“A complaint or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
