A Laredo resident, aged 36, has been charged with producing videos involving the sexual exploitation of minors, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga is scheduled for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 10 a.m.
The complaint, filed on December 2, claims that authorities discovered videos allegedly produced in the United States and distributed on the dark web. These videos reportedly feature an adult male with what appears to be different minor children in at least three separate instances.
The charges suggest that law enforcement identified Lechuga as the male involved. He has previously worked as a private teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, and as a professor in Laredo. The investigation further uncovered that Lechuga offers private music lessons aimed at minors.
Authorities executed a search warrant on December 1 at Lechuga’s residence in Laredo. According to the charges, someone familiar with the location identified it as where at least one video was produced.
If convicted, Lechuga could face up to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and up to 20 years for each count of distribution. Additionally, all charges carry a potential fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI led the investigation. Anyone with information about possible victims or who believes they have been victimized is urged to contact the FBI at 210-225-6741.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tory Sailer and Michael Makens are prosecuting this case under Project Safe Childhood (PSC). This initiative was launched by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse by utilizing federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders and rescue victims. More information about PSC can be found on DOJ’s PSC page along with internet safety education resources.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation of criminal conduct; it does not constitute evidence. A defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process of law.