Illegal Alien Charged with Possessing and Attempting to Produce Child Pornography

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted VICTOR ZELAYA-FUNEZ, age 37, a Honduran national residing in Zachary, Louisiana, for possessing and attempting to produce child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251 and 2252A. He faces a mandatory minimum 15-year prison term.

ZELAYA-FUNEZ also faces a separate federal indictment charging him with illegal re-entry into the United States by a removed alien. That charge, which was filed on December 8, 2016, remains pending. Both indictments were returned in the Middle District of Louisiana.

Acting U.S. Attorney Amundson stated, “The aggressive prosecution of illegal aliens engaged in the sexual exploitation of children is a top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice generally and this office in particular. I greatly appreciate the outstanding efforts of our excellent federal, state, and local partners in addressing this important criminal justice priority.”

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Rezaei.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.