WASHINGTON, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney's office for XXXXXX (insert district) issued the following press release:
FRESNO, Calif. - Joel Damian Ortega, 36, of Merced, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Jan. 26, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Ortega used a Samsung Galaxy smartphone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ortega also used an iPhone to receive at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on April 2...