Arkansas man convicted of child exploitation following ICE HSI investigation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A Northwest Arkansas man was sentenced to five years in federal prison May 12 for receipt of child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville and the Northwest Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Martin Rosales-Rodriguez, 20, of Rogers, Ark., will also be required to complete ten years of supervision following his release.

According to court documents, in October 2018, special agents with HSI Fayetteville and Arkansas ICAC identified a computer in the Northwest Arkansas area using a specific Internet Protocol address engaged in sharing child pornography images and videos. The IP address was traced to Rosales-Rodriguez’s residence and on April 16, 2019, a federal search warrant was executed. Forensic examinations conducted on Rosales-Rodriguez’s seized electronic devices by HSI Computer Forensic Analysts recovered over 2,600 images and videos of child pornography.

Rosales-Rodriguez was indicted in June 2019 and entered a guilty plea in October 2019. U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Arkansas Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in Fayetteville, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Driver prosecuted the case.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 19,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.