Press Release
Distributor of “Pedo Lives Matter” child pornography chatroom sent to prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Spring resident has been sentenced for distributing, receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Oscar Barrios pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett has now sentenced Barrios to 144 months for the distribution and receipt of child pornography counts and 120 months for the possession of child pornography count, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 144-month term of imprisonment. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted Barrios violated a position of trust as a father with minor children in the household. Barrios was further ordered to pay $20,500 in restitution to the victims and will serve five years life 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. Barrios will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Barrios distributed and received child pornography on multiple messaging applications such as Kik and Discord. He participated in chatrooms, including one named “Pedo Lives Matter,” where members engaged in trading child pornography. In these chatrooms, Barrios made statements proclaiming sexual interest in a minor female relative.
During a search of his electronic devices, law enforcement uncovered 66 videos and one image of child pornography.
Barrios will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebekah Saunders and Christine Lu are prosecuting 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.
Updated June 6, 2024
Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Component