EL PASO, Texas – A federal grand jury in El Paso returned an indictment on Wednesday charging an illegal alien from Mexico with five counts related to his alleged transportation of a minor for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and production, possession and transportation of child sexual abuse materials, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Clemente Fernando Vazquez Serna, 34, was encountered on Oct. 11 aboard a Transborde bus that was selected for an outbound inspection at the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. A criminal complaint affidavit alleges that Vazquez Serna and a 14-year-old female both presented Mexican birth certificates. The two passengers were escorted off the bus for further inspection. It was then discovered that Vasquez Serna was engaged in a romantic relationship with the minor and that he was taking her to Mexico to live with him.
Court documents further allege that an inspection of cell phones belonging to Vazquez Serna and the minor revealed multiple files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the 14-year-old. Vazquez Serna was arrested and, on Oct. 16, he was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Berton.
Vazquez Serna is now charged with transportation of a minor; production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct; transportation of a visual depiction involving the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; attempt to transport a visual depiction involving the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and possession of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Wisniewski is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.