A man has been indicted for having child porn and enticing three separate girls, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On Aug. 5, a grand jury charged Emanuel Valdez with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child pornography. He remains in federal custody pending further criminal proceedings. He was originally charged by criminal complaint on July 16.
Authorities said that Valdez had been communicating with a 14-year-old girl for about two years after “meeting” her while playing video games online. The conversations became sexually explicit in January.
He started sending her sexually explicit messages and asking her to send pictures of herself. Valdez would then attempt several times to make plans to meet with the minor at a hotel and pay her to have sex with him, authorities said.
Valdez would allegedly provide digital gift cards in exchange for pictures of herself posing in a sexual manner. Further investigation revealed that he tried to arrange meetings with a second 14-year-old girl for sex. He had talked with the girl about taking her virginity, according to authorities.
“The charges allege Valdez acknowledged that meeting her for sex would be illegal and suggested she lie to her parents and come up with an excuse to leave the house,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Valdez spoke to another person he believed was only 14 years old. He expressed a sexual interest in the girl during the conversations and tried to make plans to meet her. He suggested meeting her when her parents were not home.
As per the allegations, Valdez sent a chart of various sexual positions he wanted to engage in with her. On July 17, authorities executed a search leading to the discovery of thousands of photos and videos of child porn.
“Protecting minors from the depraved schemes of online sexual predators is a top priority for the Southern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
“If somebody takes to the Internet to prey on children, they are going to find their world turned upside down by this office. The Southern District of Texas will pursue these online predators to the ends of the Internet and to all four corners of the globe.”
Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office said this indictment represents a critical step toward holding accountable those who target the most vulnerable population—children.
“We will continue to pursue these child predators tirelessly through the work of our FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force,” Tapp said.
If convicted, Valdez faces up to life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
People with information about other possible victims or they believe they have been victimized can contact the FBI at 210-225-6741.
The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
