A Hidalgo County man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the production of child pornography. Jacob Ryan Arredondo, 24, from McAllen, Texas, received the sentence after pleading guilty on November 27, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton handed down the 360-month sentence. The court heard that Arredondo took advantage of his relationship with a minor to abuse him sexually. The victim, fearing Arredondo because of his size and age, kept the secret for two years. Following his prison term, Arredondo will serve 15 years on supervised release, during which he must comply with restrictions concerning children and internet access. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
"The defendant’s heinous conduct will undoubtedly leave a lasting scar on his victim, and so it’s only fitting that he received the 30-year sentence he did," said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. "Arredondo won’t be able exploit children from behind bars, and he’ll have a good, long time to think about the consequences of his actions."
Mark Lippa, Deputy Special Agent in Charge, emphasized the commitment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) to combating online crimes against children. "This sentence marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to protect young people from harm, and we will continue to pursue those who engage in these harmful activities."
The investigation was prompted by a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in August 2023. Authorities identified a Google account that shared child sexual abuse material. The investigation revealed Arredondo recorded the abuse on his cellphone, which contained 234 images and seven videos of the victim. The abuse began when the victim was 10 years old and lasted for two years.
Arredondo remains in custody awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. The investigation was conducted by ICE-HSI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood and internet safety education, visit the DOJ's website.