Rio Grande Valley man sentenced to 108 months after downloading and uploading child sexual abuse material

McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old Donna resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Miguel Angel Del Valle pleaded guilty Feb. 28.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 108-month term of imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this type of offense is one of the most serious federal crimes that can be committed. Judge Crane told Del Valle that if people like him didn’t download child pornography, then there wouldn’t be production of it and the victimization of children. Del Valle was ordered to serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Del Valle will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

The investigation began in July 2022 when Del Valle uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from his Google account. The images included minors between the ages of eight and 12 engaging in sexual activity with adults and/or other minors.

He admitted to downloading and distributing hundreds of files of CSAM using his Google account as well as WhatsApp and Telegram over an 18-month period beginning during COVID.

A forensic examination of Del Valle’s cellphone and laptop revealed 124 videos and 31 images of CSAM. One of the videos depicted an adult male sexually abusing a toddler.

“There is no place in our community for people like Mr. Del Valle,” said Ganjei. “This conviction and sentence is the latest example of how the Southern District of Texas will do whatever it takes to protect children and hold offenders accountable.”

Del Valle will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.