A 23-year-old Norwalk man already behind bars in New York for child-sex crimes is now facing a fresh round of federal child-exploitation charges in Connecticut, after investigators say they uncovered videos and messages involving multiple underage girls he met online.
Prosecutors in Hartford say the new complaint, filed in federal court, significantly widens the scope of allegations beyond the New York state case.
Federal authorities have charged Marcos Francisco Javier Gomez with production of child pornography, receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, possession or attempted possession of child pornography, and transfer of obscene materials to a minor, according to Daily Voice. The complaint lists multiple counts that, if proven, could add up to substantial time in federal prison.
A search of Gomez’s cellphone allegedly turned up communications with at least five minor girls in Connecticut. Investigators say he recorded himself engaging in sexual activity with four of those victims, asked them to send sexually explicit videos, and sent obscene images to at least one girl. Gomez typically met the minors through Snapchat and other social media platforms, according to The Hour.
The Connecticut case grew out of an April 3, 2024 arrest in Putnam County, N.Y., where investigators say Gomez traveled to meet someone he believed was a 13-year-old, according to CT Insider. He later pleaded guilty in August 2024 to second-degree attempted rape and first-degree dissemination of indecent material to a minor and was sentenced to three years in prison in November 2024, according to the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office. New York authorities transferred him to Connecticut custody earlier this year so he could face related state charges.
Gomez, who has been serving his New York sentence, appeared in federal court in Hartford on Thursday and was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson, The Hour reported. The federal complaint was filed in Hartford, and prosecutors are expected to seek a grand jury indictment as the investigation moves forward.
Legal implications
The federal complaint includes a production-of-child-pornography charge, which in many circumstances carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography carries a five-year mandatory minimum and up to 20 years, and possession counts can also bring significant prison time, according to a case summary cited by Daily Voice. A Congressional Research Service overview of federal mandatory minimums notes that prior convictions and other aggravating factors can further increase those penalties.
Future court dates will be set as the federal case unfolds, and authorities have urged anyone with information about additional victims or related conduct to contact investigators. Suspected child exploitation and tips can be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org.
