Convicted Sex Offender Arrested for Possessing Child Pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 61-year-old Corpus Christi man has been charged with possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities took Rogelio Castaneda into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington at 2:00 p.m.  

The investigation into Castaneda began after authorities discovered he had allegedly uploaded images of child pornography to his email accounts. The criminal complaint indicates Castaneda had a prior conviction related to child pornography and, as such, is required to register as a sex offender. However, he had allegedly failed to do so and was taken into custody in February 2017.

According to the charges, law enforcement seized several digital devices at the time of his arrest which led to the discovery of approximately 14 images and 470 videos of child pornography.

If convicted, Castaneda faces a minimum of 10 and up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting the case, which 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.