Former Phoenix music teacher Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges accusing him of producing child sexual abuse material involving young students who attended his private lessons. In a change-of-plea hearing, prosecutors said Lechuga admitted the recordings showed sexual acts with multiple minors. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2026. He has been held in federal custody since his arrest in December 2024, and authorities say the victims were between 6 and 11 years old.
According to AZFamily, Lechuga, 38, now living in Laredo, Texas, entered guilty pleas to five counts of producing child pornography tied to five underage girls. Prosecutors offered the plea after reviewing evidence that included videos distributed online. The case grew out of an investigation that began when the alleged videos surfaced on the dark web.
How investigators say the videos came to light
Federal agents first detected the material on dark web sites in December 2024, which led to a search of Lechuga’s home in Laredo, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. The office’s initial press release said investigators identified at least three videos that showed an adult male with different minor children in multiple clips. The Southern District reported that the FBI led the investigation and asked anyone with information about possible victims to come forward.
Where he taught and who may be affected
Prosecutors say Lechuga taught mariachi music classes and gave private lessons at his Phoenix home from 2013 through 2019, and that the victims were among the students who came to his house during those years. The FBI Phoenix Division has asked anyone who believes they or a child in their care may have been victimized to fill out an online questionnaire. Agents say that information helps identify potential victims and connect them with services, and it reflects investigators’ concern that there could be more victims than those named in the original complaint.
Legal penalties and what comes next
Production of child sexual abuse material carries steep federal penalties. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2251, a conviction for producing such material is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s earlier press release noted that production counts can carry up to 30 years and that distribution counts can add additional potential prison terms and fines, including a maximum fine of $250,000. Lechuga faces formal sentencing on Sept. 15, when the court will weigh the statutory minimums, federal sentencing guidelines and any recommendations from prosecutors.
How to contact investigators
The FBI is still urging anyone with information, or anyone who believes they may be a victim, to complete the agency’s online questionnaire or contact the Phoenix Division, which posted victim resources and a reporting form in 2025. Federal victim services and referrals remain available, and investigators say that coming forward can help identify others who were harmed and support victims’ access to services before sentencing. Local outlets report that prosecutors remain actively involved in the case as authorities work to identify all victims and preserve evidence for the court.
