Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Gregory Lopez, age 28, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced to serve 240 months (20 years) in federal prison, followed by 20 years on supervised release for production and transportation of child pornography.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, the defendant was advertising the sale of child pornography on “The Onion Router” or TOR network, which makes it difficult for users to learn each other’s physical location.  A federal agent observed the advertisement and began communicating with the defendant.  On May 6, 2020, in exchange for $40, the defendant sent the agent five videos depicting the sexual abuse of a minor victim, who was seven years old at the time.  A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home in Colorado Springs the next day.  The defendant was home, identified the minor victim to law enforcement, admitted to creating the videos depicting his sexual abuse of the minor victim, and admitted to selling the videos on TOR.  The defendant also possessed approximately 265 videos files and 20 image files depicting child pornography.

“Sexual abuse of children is egregious and harms victims for their lifetime,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan.  “Due to the excellent work of federal law enforcement and the Colorado’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the victim in this case is no longer in danger, and the perpetrator has been removed from the community for a very long time.”

“This sentencing should send a very clear message to this defendant and others like him, that HSI will punish anyone who engages in the inexcusable abuse of innocent children,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Denver. “We’re grateful for the collaboration with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Colorado to target and prosecute criminals who exploit children.”

United States District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello sentenced Gregory Lopez on December 2, 2021.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts handled the prosecution of the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Case No.  20-cr-165-CMA

# # #

Visit our website http://www.justice.gov/usao/co | Follow us on Twitter @DCoNews