Assistant U. S. Attorneys Alexandra Foster (619) 546-6735 and Sabrina Feve (619) 546-6786
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY– December 16, 2016
SAN DIEGO – Joseph Daniel Saucedo of Vista was arraigned in federal court yesterday on charges that he attempted to coerce two children, ages 11 and 16, into sending naked and sexually explicit photographs of themselves, and then threatened to expose them if they didn’t continue.
Saucedo was charged with production, attempted production and receipt of photographs of minors. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt ordered him detained pending a hearing on December 22, 2016.
According to a complaint, Saucedo posed as a teenage girl and began communicating online with an 11-year-old Canadian boy. At first the two had normal conversations about everyday life. But then Saucedo, pretending to be “Amy,” sent naked pictures of young girls and asked the boy to communicate with her friend, an adult male, via telephone. “Amy” threatened to disparage the boy online if the boy did not contact her adult male friend.
After days of pressure from “Amy,” the boy relented and texted the adult male, who then called the boy using FaceTime and sent the boy photos of himself naked on his bed and other sexually explicit images. The Canadian boy continued to hang up on the adult male.
The harassment continued, and finally, on January 25, 2016, the boy received a message from “Amy” which included a video of a young boy masturbating. Amy threatened to leak the video and claim it depicted the Canadian boy.
Around this time, police in Calgary began investigating Saucedo’s online accounts that they had linked to child pornography. According to the complaint, they linked Saucedo to scores of illicit images and traced him to Vista, California.
They also discovered that Saucedo was carrying on a similar online relationship with a 16-year-old girl in Florida – this time pretending to be a modeling agent.
“As parents we need to be aggressively monitor what our children are doing online, and as prosecutors, we will aggressively go after predators who are coercing, extorting and harming our kids,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. Duffy asked that potential victims to please contact our Victim-Witness Coordinator, Polly Montano, at 619-546-8921.
“The tireless efforts and great investigative work by our special agents has lead us to serious charges against Mr. Saucedo,” said David Shaw, Special Agent in Charge for United States Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego. “Working hand in hand with our law enforcement partners, we continue to keep our children's safety as one of our top priorities.”
“The United States Secret Service will continue to work closely with our partners at Homeland Security Investigations, as well as our state, local and foreign law enforcement partners, in assisting them with investigations that involve sexually exploited children,” said David Murray, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service San Diego Field Office. “With a collaborative effort, law enforcement has a greater impact on our communities, especially in stopping those who prey on innocent children.”
DEFENDANT Case Number: 16-MJ-3834
Joseph Daniel Saucedo Age:25 Vista, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count One
Attempted Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, in violation of 18 USC Sections 2251(a) and (e).
Minimum Penalty: 25 years
Maximum Penalty: 50 years
Count Two
Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, in violation of 18 USC Section 2251(a).
Minimum Penalty: 25 years
Maximum Penalty: 50 years
Count Three
Receipt of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2)
Minimum Penalty: 15 years
Maximum Penalty: 40 years
AGENCY
United States Homeland Security Investigations
United States Secret Service
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.