El Paso Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

In El Paso today, 35-year-old David Aaron Diaz was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez, El Paso Division.

In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Judge David Briones ordered that Diaz be placed on supervised release for ten years after completing his prison term. 

On September 15, 2015, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography.  By pleading guilty, Diaz admitted that he received and was in possession of pictures containing images of the sexual exploitation of children.  Diaz had over 130,000 files containing child pornography in his possession.

Diaz has remained in federal custody since his arrest by HSI agents on April 10, 2015.

"This sentence serves as a reminder of the gravity of this crime," said Waldemar Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of HSI - El Paso. "It’s also a testament to the dedicated HSI special agents who aggressively investigate these pedophiles, bring them out of the shadows, and ensure they receive the punishment they deserve.”

This case was investigated by the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Hanna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  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, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.