A Houston business owner has been taken into custody on charges of online impersonation and creating fake sexual content of a local internet influencer. Jorge Abrego, the co-owner of HTX Tactical, faces allegations of using artificial intelligence to generate explicit images and videos, some of which were shared on fake TikTok accounts that mimicked the influencer's profile. According to Click2Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the arrest after connecting the doctored material back to Abrego.
In a twist to the investigation, it has been revealed that Abrego previously expressed romantic interest in the victim, claiming to be "in love with her," as per statements to the authorities. During an interview with investigators, Abrego admitted to apparently specifically generate the falsified content, knowing full well that it could harm the woman's financial standing and reputation. Following subpoenas issued to various tech companies and the retrieval of account user information, officers were able to link the phone number and IP address used to create the accounts directly to Abrego and HTX Tactical, as reported by KHOU 11.
The charges come alongside a multitude of explicit files discovered on Abrego's phone, with more than 50 images and videos that depict AI-generated nude content of the victim. The influencer, who has a significant following on social media, has underscored that she has never posted any nude images of herself on the internet. These actions have understandably led to concerns over her safety and reputation, as well as financial losses, as she told authorities.
Adding onto the legal woes, Abrego was reportedly out on bond after his arrest. This is not his first brush with the law this year, as HTX Tactical was broken into back in May. The victim has opted to remain out of the public inquiry at this juncture, while law enforcement is raising awareness on the growing threat posed by AI-generated deepfake crimes. Montgomery County Constable Ken Washington weighed in, noting the deceptive nature of such incidents and the increasing frequency within the public sphere, including among celebrities and other public figures, as stated in the KHOU 11 report.
Javier Garcia, co-owner of HTX Tactical, offered a formal response stating, "We want to emphasize that these are allegations and Mr. Abrego is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. While this situation does not reflect the company's values or its day-to-day operations, we take these allegations very seriously," as per a statement obtained by Click2Houston. He further expressed the company's commitment to cooperation with the investigation and assured a review of internal processes to maintain the integrity and compliance of their business operations.
