A Mexican national, Christian Christopher Rodriguez-Lopez, has been sentenced to 151 months in a U.S. federal prison for transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and importing cocaine, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges on August 21, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, while delivering the sentence, mentioned that the CSAM involved victims from infants to 12 years old, which resulted in enhanced penalties for prepubescent depictions and sadistic material. Post-incarceration, Rodriguez-Lopez will serve a lifetime of supervised release with restrictions on his access to the internet and children. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Rodriguez-Lopez’s visa was revoked upon arrest, and he faces potential deportation after serving his sentence.
In April 2024, Rodriguez-Lopez was intercepted attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico, where authorities discovered approximately five kilograms of cocaine in his vehicle. He admitted to intentionally importing the narcotic. A subsequent investigation uncovered CSAM on his cellphone.
"Mr. Rodriguez-Lopez is a perfect example of why our more aggressive approach to border security is so critical," remarked Ganjei. "Neither these drugs, nor this defendant, have any place in our communities. Due to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, this cocaine will never make it to the streets and this offender will spend the next decade in federal prison."
Rodriguez-Lopez remains in custody until his transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. The investigation was a cooperative effort between Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarina S. DiPiazza prosecuted the case under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child exploitation and abuse. PSC combines federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
For more information about PSC and internet safety education, individuals can visit the DOJ's PSC page and its resources tab.