ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Armando Gonzalez, 38, Clarissa Chavez, 28, and Desiree Quintana, 36, all of Las Cruces, New Mexico, appeared in federal court in Las Cruces on October 24 for initial appearances on criminal complaints charging them with child pornography offenses.
One criminal complaint charges Gonzalez and Chavez with production of child pornography. The complaint further charges Gonzalez with distribution of child pornography and Chavez with receipt of child pornography. A second complaint charges Quintana with production and distribution of child pornography.
According to these complaints, Quintana allegedly used Facebook to send five photographs and one video of child pornography to Gonzalez on January 28. Gonzalez also allegedly sent videos and photographs containing child pornography to Chavez using Facebook accounts. This alleged distribution included a video of a child sent on June 3, 2019.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Gonzalez on October 22, and Chavez and Quintana on October 23. All of them are currently in custody pending detention hearings scheduled for October 29.
Gonzalez and Chavez face a mandatory minimum of fifteen years and up to thirty years in prison if convicted of production of child pornography. Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum five years and up to twenty years in prison if convicted of distribution. Chavez faces a mandatory minimum five years and up to twenty years in prison if convicted of receipt. A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
HSI investigated this case with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, New Mexico State Police, and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Information from Department of Justice