SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Feb. 13, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Ricardo Gutierrez, 27, of Red Bluff, of charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. The indictment was unsealed following Gutierrez’ arrest.
According to court documents, in April 2024, Gutierrez used four children to create at least two videos of the children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, between November 2023 and July 2024, Gutierrez distributed several videos and images of prepubescent children, including infants, involved in sexually explicit conduct to others.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Gutierrez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of distribution of visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, Gutierrez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
