HSI investigation results in 45-year-sentence of NM man who produced, possessed child pornography
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A New Mexico man was sentenced Aug. 30 to 45 years in prison for production and possession of child pornography following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The Lordsburg and Las Cruces Police departments assisted with the case.
Gilbert Gallegos, 46, of Lordsburg, pleaded guilty on Jan. 29, 2021, to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court records, Gallegos coerced an 11-year-old victim to engage in sexual acts, which Gallegos recorded on his cellphone. On May 4, 2020, HSI special agents, executing a federal search warrant, recovered the videos from Gallegos’ phone, as well as another pornographic video involving two minor victims.
“This sentence appropriately holds an egregious child predator accountable for his abuse, exploitation, and degradation of innocent and vulnerable children,” said Francisco Burrola, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “One of HSI’s top priorities is to stop perpetrators like this from exploiting our youth for their deviant sexual gratification.”
Upon his release from prison, Gallegos will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Learn more about HSI’s mission and work in your community on Twitter @HSIElPaso.
HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 86 overseas locations in 55 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
Updated: