LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Danville man, who sexually exploited minor females using social media, and in some cases threatened the minors with the distribution of their nude images to their friends, family, and churches, pled guilty to federal child exploitation and threat charges. Jesus Diaz, 25, pled guilty to one count of making extortive threats to injure the reputation of another and four counts of enticement of a minor. “The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will aggressively target and prosecute online predators who coerce and exploit our children,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said.
“I commend DHS Homeland Security Investigations, the City of Danville Police Department, U.S Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Patrol, the Idaho Office of Attorney General, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their assistance bringing this defendant to justice.” “Diaz repeatedly exploited and extorted children he met online, using fear to force them into producing explicit material. This heartbreaking cycle has become increasingly common as children spend more time online. Following today’s guilty plea, Diaz faces substantial federal prison time for his crimes,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf.
“This case was made possible by the courage of the victims who came forward and shared their experiences, providing the evidence needed to hold Diaz accountable. We want parents and children to know that if they have been victimized by someone like Diaz, they are not alone and help is available.”According to court documents, between July 2019 and November 2021, Diaz used social media platforms to entice Minor 1 (M1) to send him nude and sexually explicit photos and videos of herself. At the time, M1 was approximately 13 to 14 years old. After years of having no contact with M1, Diaz contacted her on February 28, 2024, via social media.
Diaz sent M1 nude and sexually explicit images and videos, along with other non-nude images, that M1 had sent to Diaz years before and demanded that M1 add him as a friend on another social media platform “or else I start sending these out.” Diaz then started a countdown: “25” “20” “15.” M1 added Diaz on the social media platform as demanded. From February 2024 through April 2024, Diaz repeatedly contacted M1. Diaz told M1 he was in love with her, despite having never met her. He threatened to expose M1 to her high school, her family, her ex-boyfriend, and her church.
Diaz accused M1 of “playing with [his] strings” and blamed her for “hurting [him] like this.” He also sought more nude and sexually explicit images. For weeks, Diaz created new accounts and continued to contact M1, despite her blocking him on social media. Diaz sent her multiple friend requests, direct messages threatening to send her nude images to her ex-boyfriend or her best friend and left a comment on a social media post she made. M1 reported the threats to state authorities in Idaho, who quickly worked to identify Diaz as a suspect.
Subsequent investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations, revealed a pattern of similar behavior. Between August 2022 and April 2024, Diaz used social media platforms to entice Minor 2 (M2) to take nude and sexually explicit photos and to record nude and sexually explicit videos of herself. Diaz also called M2 using FaceTime and recorded M2. M2 periodically felt uncomfortable and blocked Diaz on social media.
In order to contact M2, Diaz created different social media accounts using names M2 did not recognize. In 2024, following an extended period of no contact, Diaz messaged M2 from a social media account she did not recognize and sent M2 a video of herself showering and threatened to send it to her high school if she didn’t answer him. Diaz demanded a new shower video every day for the next six months. M2 pleaded with Diaz to not publish her images.
Ultimately, she agreed to send Diaz one final video, which she sent in April 2024. M2 then blocked Diaz and cut off contact with him. During the relevant period, M2 was between 15 and 17 years old. Between May 2024 and October 2024, Diaz used social media platforms to entice Minor 3 (M3) to take nude and sexually explicit photos and to record nude and sexually explicit videos of herself.
Diaz also called M3 using FaceTime and recorded M3. At the time, M3 was 15 years old. Between August 2024 and November 2024, Diaz used social media platforms to entice Minor 4 (M4) to take nude and sexually explicit photos and to record nude and sexually explicit videos of herself. When M4 expressed discomfort, Diaz threatened to leak M4’s pictures.
Ultimately, M4 blocked Diaz when she believed it was safe to do so. At the time, M4 was 16 and 17 years old. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf made the announcement.Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. is investigating the case, with assistance from the Homeland Security Investigations Albuquerque, NM office, which played a key role in the apprehension of Diaz.
Valuable investigative support was also provided by the Idaho Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Division; the City of Danville Police Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case.The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.
In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ .