Phoenix FBI office seeks possible victims connected to Texas sexual exploitation case

PHOENIX — The Phoenix division of the FBI is looking to identify potential Arizona victims of a man who has a sexual exploitation case in Texas.

Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga, 36, was charged in December with production of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Authorities allegedly learned of at least three videos of Lechuga with what appears to be different minor children that were distributed on the dark web.

Why is the Phoenix FBI office looking for possible victims?

Lechuga was a private teacher in Arizona before he moved to Laredo and became a professor.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the investigation reportedly also revealed that Lechuga offered private music lessons targeted for minors.

The FBI believes that Lechuga primarily targeted minor female students between 2015 and 2019.

It was not shared when Lechuga lived in Phoenix or when he moved to Texas.

Anyone who believes they were victimized, know someone who was victimized by Lechuga or has information relevant to the investigation is asked to fill out a short form.

Lechuga faces up to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and a maximum of 20 years for each count of distributing if convicted. The charges also carry a possible penalty of a $250,000 maximum fine.

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