Albuquerque Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was charged by criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of minors, including the production of child pornography. Authorities allege that Kevin Vallo, 39, lured three minor girls to his apartment through the messaging app "Telegram."

Vallo appeared before a federal judge on May 14, 2024, and was detained pending trial.

According to the criminal complaint, on March 20, 2024, detectives from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office learned of a 15-year-old girl, Jane Doe 1, who had disclosed that she and her friends, Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3, both 13-years-old, had sexual intercourse with an approximately 30-year-old man who they had met through the app “Telegram” at his apartment in Northeast Albuquerque.

Jane Doe 2 told detectives that the man initially claimed to be 16 years old and blocked her when she revealed her age as 13. However, a week later, he messaged her again with a different profile picture, persistently asking her to come to his house until she agreed, under the impression that it was just to "hang out," and brought Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 3 with her.

The man paid Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 for the acts they performed. After the victims left the apartment, the man sent Jane Doe 2 two videos through Telegram which contained child sexual abuse material.

Detectives identified Vallo's apartment based on the victims' descriptions, and the apartment complex management confirmed him as the resident. All three victims identified Vallo from a photo array using his driver's license photo. Vallo was detained at his workplace and claimed during an interview that he believed Jane Doe 2 was 18 years old. Vallo stated he did not have sex with Jane Doe 3 because he thought she looked underage. Detectives located four videos on Vallo’s phone which contained child sexual abuse material of Jane Doe 2.

If convicted of the current charges, Vallo faces between 15 and 30 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

If you have reason to believe you or your child may be a victim of Vallo, or if you have information about this ongoing investigation, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or submit their tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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