A Houston man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in child pornography distribution, including involvement in a chatroom labeled "Pedo Lives Matter." Oscar Barrios, 35, previously pleaded guilty to charges of distribution, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett sentenced Barrios on the counts, ordering the sentences, for distribution and receipt of 144 months and for possession of 120 months, to run concurrently. Additionally, Barrios was ordered to pay $20,500 in restitution to the victims and upon release, will be on supervised release for five years. During this supervised period, multiple restrictions will apply to his internet access and any possible interactions with children.
Barrios' engagement in these illicit activities extended to several messaging applications such as Kik and Discord. In the "Pedo and Live Matter" chatroom, participants exchanged pornographic material of minors. Barrios expressed sexual interest in a minor female relative, according to statements collected by authorities.
Upon a search of Barrios' electronic devices, at least 66 videos, and an image featuring child pornography were discovered. As part of the criminal process, Barrios is currently in custody and awaits transfer to a federal penitentiary. The FBI, with support from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, led the investigation against Barrios.
The case against Barrios was prosecuted as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed specifically at eliminating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched back in May 2006, the program coordinates efforts across federal, state, and local agencies to both apprehend offenders and support the recovery of victims. For further details on Project Safe Childhood and online safety education, the DOJ directs to its dedicated web pages.
