An Army specialist from El Paso has admitted in federal court to an online child exploitation spree that stretched from Alaska to Texas, involving the dark web, encrypted apps, and artificial intelligence tools prosecutors say he used to twist everyday images of children into abuse material.
Prosecutors say 36-year-old Seth Herrera pleaded guilty Wednesday in Anchorage federal court under a written plea agreement to attempting to produce child sexual abuse material that depicted minors he knew, and to trafficking that material across state lines. The plea follows a multi-agency investigation that officials say uncovered tens of thousands of abusive images and videos on his devices.
Prosecutors Say He Tapped Dark Web, Encrypted Apps
According to federal court filings and a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, Herrera began using The Onion Router (TOR) and encrypted messaging apps in March 2021 to seek, receive, and transport child sexual abuse material.
Investigators say he joined hundreds of Telegram groups and channels and uploaded more than 100 files to a publicly accessible group. When law enforcement seized his devices in May 2024, they reported finding tens of thousands of videos and images that depicted victims ranging from infants through pubescence.
Allegations Include Secret Recordings, AI Image "Morphing"
Local reporting and court records indicate Herrera went beyond downloading material already circulating online. According to KTUU/Alaska’s News Source, investigators say he used AI chatbots to "morph" seemingly ordinary photos of children, including minors known to him, into sexually explicit images.
Prosecutors also allege they uncovered evidence of secret photographs and recordings of children taken inside his home. Court filings state that Herrera produced at least 28 photos and two videos of a single minor captured from security cameras, and that he uploaded AI-generated and other child sexual abuse material across encrypted platforms.
Plea Deal Ties Together Alaska, Texas Cases
Herrera entered his guilty plea under a global agreement that consolidated charges from both states after the Western District of Texas transferred its indictment to Alaska on June 15. Under that deal, he admitted to conduct tied to attempted production, trafficking, and interstate transportation of child sexual abuse material.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29. Federal prosecutors say Herrera faces between 15 and 20 years in prison, with the final punishment to be set by a judge.
Multi-Agency Probe, Growing National Trend
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations’ Seattle field office and the Army Criminal Investigation Division, working with federal prosecutors, according to reporting by Stars and Stripes.
Legal analysts say Herrera’s case is one in a rising number of prosecutions involving AI-generated imagery and encrypted networks, a trend examined in an analysis by the American Bar Association.
Federal Law Brings Heavy Penalties
Production, transportation and receipt of child sexual abuse material are felonies under federal law, with mandatory minimum sentences and steep maximums. Judges must weigh those penalties against federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors before imposing a sentence.
The federal rules governing the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material are laid out in Title 18 of the U.S. Code, including provisions collected at Legal Information Institute. The judge in Herrera’s case will review those statutes and the guidelines before determining his final sentence.
