Las Vegas Man Sentenced For Distributing Child Pornography Using Instant Messaging App

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for distributing more than 600 child pornography images and videos using Kik Messenger, an instant messaging application.

According to court documents, between about September 27, 2019 to November 1, 2019, Cyrus Orlando Ortega (28) distributed child pornography images and videos to other Kik Messenger users, in exchange for child pornography from those users. The images and videos depicted underage victims — some as young as infants — being sexually exploited.

Ortega pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Ortega to a lifetime term of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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