Former United States Air Force Officer Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

 SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Julio M. Gomez, 53, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, was sentenced today by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 37 months (3 years, 1 day) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a minor. Gomez was also ordered to pay $29,900 in restitution to the victim and a fine of $10,000.

Julio M. Gomez pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual abuse of a minor on October 3, 2019. According to information presented to the court, an investigation was conducted by the United States Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations after receiving a complaint alleging sexual misconduct in 1997 with a 13-year old female while he was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. The investigation revealed that between January 1997 and December 1998, Gomez did sexually abuse a 13-year old minor victim while living at his base residence. Gomez was a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force at the time of the incident.

The United States Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.