The FBI is currently investigating allegations of child sexual abuse involving a minor in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. The accused, Nolin Leupp, aged 26, has appeared before a federal judge and will remain under conditions of release pending trial. He faces charges related to receiving child sexual abuse material.
Court documents reveal that on December 8, 2024, a witness reported suspected sexual assault involving Leupp and a minor victim. The witness also disclosed concerning communications between Leupp and the victim, including sexually explicit Snapchat messages and plans for late-night meetings.
In an interview conducted on December 19, 2024, Leupp admitted to having a romantic relationship with the minor. A search of his phone uncovered four videos suspected to be child sexual abuse material downloaded from Discord and Snapchat.
If convicted of these charges, Leupp could face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced the case today. The investigation was carried out by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood combines resources from federal, state, and local levels to locate and prosecute individuals exploiting children via the Internet while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about this initiative can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
A criminal complaint serves merely as an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.