A registered sex offender in Reno is headed back to federal prison for five years after authorities say they uncovered thousands of child sexual abuse images and videos on his cell phones. Investigators say the case began when the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged suspected uploads, triggering a multi‑agency probe. U.S. District Judge Anne R. Traum imposed the five‑year mandatory minimum prison term for the federal receipt offense.
In a press release via the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, officials identified the defendant as William Alan Barragan Diaz and said Judge Traum sentenced him to 60 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. Prosecutors had calculated a U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of 151 to 188 months and recommended a 151‑month term followed by lifetime supervised release, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah described the sentence as the mandatory minimum penalty.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material https://t.co/sNryn4TeDX
- U.S. Attorney Nevada (@usao_nv) March 24, 2026
How Investigators Say The Case Broke Open
The investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children forwarded a CyberTip to law enforcement, which is how many online child sexual abuse material matters are flagged. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children routes reports from its CyberTipline to Internet Crimes Against Children units for follow‑up, and local authorities say those tips often prompt search warrants and digital forensic examinations. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office notes that its Northern Nevada task force collaborates with the FBI, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office and the Sparks Police Department on these investigations.
What Agents Say They Found
According to court documents, beginning about June 6, 2024, William Alan Barragan Diaz downloaded and possessed images and videos of child sexual abuse. Agents executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered child sexual abuse material files on two cell phones. In total, authorities recovered over 6,200 images and more than 400 videos, some showing children under 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. St. Clair prosecuted the matter as part of Project Safe Childhood, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sentence, Supervision And Broader Context
Diaz will be required to comply with federal sex‑offender registration rules under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which sets national registration standards and reporting obligations, per the SMART Office. Federal authorities say Project Safe Childhood coordinates prosecutions of online child exploitation across agencies, and federal reporting shows sentences in child sexual abuse material cases vary widely depending on conduct and victimization. Victims or anyone with information about online child sexual exploitation can report tips to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or contact local law enforcement for help.
Legal Implications
Because Diaz was already a registered sex offender, he faces ongoing registration duties and strict supervised‑release conditions. Failure to register or violating release conditions can trigger additional federal prosecution under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and related statutes. For statutory background on 42 U.S.C. § 16917, see Justia.
