A 30-year-old Warden, WA man (Grant County) will spend at least 23 years in prison for his role in a child porn ring.

Federal officials announced Thursday April 1, Carlos Salgado Velasquez, plead guilty March 31st to one count of Child Pornography and one count of Child Sex Trafficking.  The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of WA agreed on a sentence of 23 years; now it will be up to Federal Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen will decide in July during sentencing if that plea and agreement will be accepted.

Velasquez admitted to running a child pornography ring between September 2016 and 2018, involving at least four minor females.

He admitted knowingly taking part in explicit sexual conduct with the victims, for the purpose of producting what Federal investigators called visual depictions of the actions.

He also admitted 'trading' the sexual activity for items of value with the victims. He also solicited them to engage in the activities with him by using various social media platforms.

According to Federal officials:

"This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse."

Also assisting in the investigating were the Kennewick and Richland Police Departments, the well known Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (which is where the KPD and RPD were involved) as well as Homeland Security.

The sentencing will be July 6, 2021.

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