A husband-wife duo and a sibling that pled guilty to federal child exploitation charges in October, were sentenced on Wednesday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 26-year-old Christopher Almaguer and 27-year-old Sarah Almaguer pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of production of child pornography.
“The facts of this case are just unbearable, of the 25 children some were family members, some were kids they knew from church, some were kids that parents asked to babysit them,” said John Bash, U.S. Attorney General.
The Almaguers each face a mandatory minimum term of 15 years up to 30 years in federal prison on each count.
The two were sentenced to 60 years each for the production of child pornography.
The Almaguers admitted in December 2017, that they uploaded sexually explicit videos of themselves sexually assaulting children as young as 8-months-old. According to court records, investigators compiled a list of approximately 25 potential minor child victims, ranging in age from infants to 14-years-old in Central Texas.
“These kids suffering and abuse will continue for their entire lives because those images will be continually shared online. As Mr. Gloff said in his unbelievable argument to the court today, except maybe for the infants, these kids will also, every time they close their eyes will remember this abuse,” said Bash.
Paul Perez Jr., who officials say is Christopher Almaguer's brother, was also arrested an one count of production of child porn.
Perez told officials that he had participated in the production of child porn with his brother and sister-in-law. He also detailed occasions where he had sexual contact with and/or sexually assaulted children ranging from 4-months-old to 10-years-old. He also told authorities that he had recorded his brother and sister-in-law doing the same to other children.
All three have remained in custody since their arrests by investigators with the Texas Office of Attorney General, Child Exploitation Unit and special agents with the United States Secret Service in February 2018.
Perez was sentenced to 20 years.
The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division, Child Exploitation Unit, Unites States Secret Service and Killeen police.
“These crimes are incredibly difficult to detect. Child victims often won't come forward, sometimes they are so young they could not possibly come forward, they don't even know what is happening to them is wrong,” said Bash.
