South Bay Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Receiving, Possessing and Distributing Child Pornography

          LOS ANGELES – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography and distributing the sexually explicit images of children to other Internet users.

          Daniel Patrick Diaz, 35, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. James Otero. In July 2019, Diaz pleaded guilty to four counts of receipt and distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

          Diaz admitted in his plea agreement that he used the Internet to download and transfer numerous images and videos of child pornography to various digital devices and email accounts. In April 2017, Diaz used the internet messenger application Kik to knowingly distribute files that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Diaz sent the illicit images to an undercover law enforcement officer.

          A federal search warrant executed in May 2017 revealed that Diaz used an email address to receive and distribute child pornography, including sadistic and masochistic content.

          In total, Diaz possessed at least 600 images of child pornography.

          “The prolific nature of [Diaz’s] fascination with child pornography, including the types of content he possessed, shared, and distributed, is troubling,” the prosecution wrote in its sentencing memorandum, which notes that “his trading, sharing, possession, and distribution of these image and videos only served to continue the harm suffered by the victims.”

          This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is part of Project Safe Childhood, the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to combat child exploitation crimes.

          This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph D. Axelrad of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.