Birmingham Man Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charges

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – A federal judge today sentenced a man on child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger.

U.S. District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Guillermo Martin Lopez, 31, to 65 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.  Lopez pleaded guilty in December 2020 to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  This conviction will require him to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

According to the plea agreement, in November 2019, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) received a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that included information received by Omegle – a free online chat website that allows users to socialize with others without the need to register.  In September 2019, Omegle reported that a live streaming video containing child pornography was uploaded to an online Omegle account. Upon further investigation, a state search warrant was obtained for the residence of Lopez and electronic devices were seized by law enforcement.  A forensic review of Lopez’s Apple MacBook laptop revealed at least 13 images and 6 videos of child pornography produced by Lopez.

“There is no more worthy cause than protecting children from predators seeking to exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The success of cases like this come from the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement.  We have one common goal – to pursue justice for child victims.”

“Lopez deserves every day of this sentence and I'm proud of the work of my agents and our partners to bring him to justice,” said FBI SAC Sharp.

“This sentence cannot restore the innocence that this predator stole, but it will ensure that he is not able to continue to produce and distribute this filth,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Cases like this show our unyielding resolve to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in this despicable crime.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Victims Unit/ ICAC Task Force investigated the case, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations,  the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Lloyd C. Peeples, III prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet,  and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.