LAREDO, Texas — A South Texas man pleaded responsible March 7 to sexual exploitation of a kid and possession of kid pornography following an investigation performed by Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) and the Laredo Police Division.
Aaron Negrete, 26, from Laredo, pleaded responsible earlier than U.S. District Choose Diana Saldaña.
In line with courtroom paperwork, the investigation started when authorities discovered an IP tackle related to Negrete had uploaded youngster sexual abuse materials on-line. On Oct. 12, 2022, legislation enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Negrete’s residence. At the moment, they discovered and seized a number of digital gadgets containing youngster pornography and took Negrete into custody.
Negrete admitted to downloading an app to seek for youngster sexual abuse materials involving child and toddler abuse. He additionally sexually abused a minor relative, recorded himself doing so, and shared the recordings and images on-line.
The investigation revealed that the minor visited Negrete and stayed at his residence in Laredo. The sufferer claimed that on greater than 50 cases, Negrete pressured the minor to rub his genitals and took bare photos of him. He informed his sufferer to maintain it a secret to forestall “one thing unhealthy” from occurring.
Saldaña will sentence Negrete at a later date. Negrete faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 15 years in federal jail. The utmost sentence is 30 years’ imprisonment.
Negrete stays in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Michael Makens of the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case.
HSI encourages the general public to report suspected youngster predators and any suspicious exercise by means of its toll-free tip line at 866-347-2423 or by finishing its on-line tip form. Each are staffed across the clock. From exterior the USA and Canada, callers ought to dial 802-872-6199. Listening to impaired customers might name TTY 802-872-6196.
HSI takes a victim-centered method to youngster exploitation investigations by working to establish, rescue and stabilize victims. HSI works in partnership with the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters, ICAC companions, and different federal, state and native businesses to assist remedy circumstances and rescue sexually exploited kids. You possibly can report suspected youngster sexual exploitation or lacking kids to the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters’s toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 800-THE-LOST.
HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, a world alliance of legislation enforcement businesses and personal business sector companions working collectively to forestall and deter on-line youngster sexual abuse.
One in every of HSI’s high priorities is to guard the general public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s youngster exploitation investigations program is a central part of this mission set. Additional, HSI is acknowledged as a world chief on this investigative self-discipline. The directorate is dedicated to using its huge authorities, worldwide footprint and powerful authorities and nongovernment partnerships to establish and rescue youngster victims; establish and apprehend offenders; forestall transnational youngster sexual abuse; and assist make the web a safer place for kids.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these legal organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by means of which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 staff consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through the USA, and 93 abroad places in 56 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative legislation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. legislation enforcement.
