Border Patrol Agent Accused of Child Pornography Production and Distribution
A Border Patrol agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been charged by a grand jury in Arizona for allegedly producing and distributing child pornography, along with possessing an illegal firearm, federal prosecutors announced on Friday.
Nereo Mejia Gomez, Jr., 41, residing in Yuma, faces serious charges including one count of production of child pornography, multiple counts of distribution and possession of child pornography, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.
According to court documents, Gomez is accused of producing pornographic material involving a minor girl between November 2022 and March 2023, when the girl was aged 15 and 16 respectively. It is alleged that he knowingly distributed these materials within and outside the United States. Additionally, Gomez purportedly distributed related materials involving a minor on five occasions between February and March 2024. Authorities claim to have found Gomez in possession of such materials, including one depicting “a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age,” with the alleged intent to view them.
The court documents also allege that Gomez possessed a short-barreled L.A.R. MFG Grizzly-15 firearm that was not registered to him.
Gomez, who served as an agent at the Yuma Sector of the Border Patrol, is reportedly cooperating with Homeland Security Investigations regarding the case.
If found guilty, Gomez could face severe penalties, including imprisonment for 15 to 30 years for the production of child pornography and up to 20 years for each count of distributing and possessing child pornography. The charge of possessing an unregistered firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Additionally, all child exploitation counts carry the potential for a fine of up to $250,000 and a lifetime term of supervised release, as stated in the prosecutor’s statement.
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