A man from Denton, Texas, has been officially charged for being involved in child pornography. A federal grand jury returned the charges against 34-year-old Carlos Eduardo Pineda-Morales. He is accused of using digital devices and online services to receive and view illegal material between October 7 and October 30, 2024.
What Are the Charges?
According to the indictment, Pineda-Morales received child pornography and had the intent to access and view such content. He used a communication app, a cloud storage service, and other electronic devices that belonged to him to carry out these actions.
The court documents do not give details about the specific material or how he was caught, but the charges are serious and fall under federal laws related to child exploitation.
Who Is Handling the Case?
The case was investigated by the FBI Dallas Office (Frisco Resident Agency) along with the Denton Police Department. Both agencies worked together to collect evidence and build the case.
The charges were announced by Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. for the Eastern District of Texas.
The trial is being handled by McKenzie Hightower from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
What Is Project Safe Childhood?
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a special program started in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. The goal of this program is to fight child sexual exploitation and abuse across the country. It brings together law enforcement teams at the federal, state, and local levels to find and prosecute people who harm children through the internet.
Project Safe Childhood also helps find victims and rescue them from abuse. More information about this program can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Legal Note
It’s important to know that an indictment is not the same as a conviction. It is only a formal accusation. Carlos Eduardo Pineda-Morales is considered innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Why This Case Matters
Cases like these show how seriously the U.S. justice system treats crimes involving child exploitation. With technology making it easier to share and access harmful material, the government is putting in strong efforts to track down offenders and protect children. Programs like Project Safe Childhood are essential in helping law enforcement identify threats and stop them before more harm is done.
