Mission Man Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Via Facebook

McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old resident of Mission has been convicted of receiving child pornography utilizing a false profile he established on Facebook, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Carlo Alberto Solis used a photograph of a real female but created a false Facebook account and solicited pornographic images from a young male.

“While technology in this era is a wonderful tool for connecting with others, it can also a very dangerous place, especially for children,” said Magidson. “Adults, parents, older siblings and caregivers need to be vigilant in their efforts to protect our children online. We need to teach them about these dangers, with whom they could be communicating and what information should and should not be shared.”

The investigation revealed that a 13-year-old male was enticed and then later coerced to sending pornographic images of himself through Facebook’s Instant Messaging (IM) application to an individual using the Facebook profile “Sandy Fernandez.” During the course of the investigation, agents were able to identify that Solis was in fact utilizing that false profile.

A federal search warrant was executed on Facebook Inc. for all of the communications of Sandy Fernandez. During a review of these communications, agents discovered a number of images sent to Solis through the Sandy Fernandez profile that depicted the minor child’s genitalia.

On March 5, 2015, authorities executed a federal search warrant on the residence where Solis was living. At that time, he admitted he had created a fictitious Facebook profile under the female alias of “Sandy Fernandez.” He further admitted that around September or October 2014, while using the profile of “Sandy Fernandez,” he enticed the 13-year-old male to send pornographic images of himself through Facebook IM. Solis admitted he received additional pornographic images from other males that were under the age of 18 while using this fake profile. 

A review of Solis’ computer and phone as well as his Facebook profile of Sandy Fernandez showed numerous images of child pornography.

Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, who accepted the guilty plea, has set sentencing for March 29, 2016. At that time, Solis faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Kimberly Leo and David A. Lindenmuth, 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."