Local man admits to receiving and storing child pornography via social media

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Ricardo Reyna admitted to viewing and sharing child pornography between May 1, 2020 and May 6, 2022. 

During the investigation, authorities found 51 video files and 16 images of child pornography on Reyna’s cellphones. Reyna admitted to viewing and sharing child pornography on Kik starting in 2020. 

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose a sentencing Oct. 18. At that time, Reyna faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Reyna has been and will remain in custody pending his hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney April Ayers-Perez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.