Stanislaus connection to arrest of Texas man for alleged exploitation of minors
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation in February into online sexual exploitation of a minor after a local mother reported an unknown male contacted her daughter online and requested she send sexually explicit images of herself.
The suspect, identified as Miguel Angel Lagos Ezquivel of Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested there in May on charges of possession and promotion of child pornography. He is awaiting federal charges relating to exploitation of multiple minors and additional victims are still being identified.
The Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office’s Special Victims Unit and the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit determined that Ezquivel communicated with 30 minors across California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico and New Jersey.
With assistance from Homeland Security Investigations Stockton, the Sheriff’s Office presented the case for federal prosecution, and in April, the Northern District of Texas prepared for a federal indictment. The search warrant presented during his arrest was served with the assistance of the Fort Worth Police Department, HSI Dallas and HSI Stockton.
The Sheriff’s Office asks parents and guardians to “remain vigilant regarding their children’s online activity and to report any suspicious or inappropriate contact to law enforcement immediately.”
