ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Michael Salas, 52, of San Antonio, was sentenced to 256 months in prison for his role in the production and attempted production of child pornography. According to court documents, in March 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and law enforcement received anonymous information that an eleven-year-old girl was being blackmailed over social media into sending sexual photographs of herself. The internet account was traced back to Salas, a then-fifty-one-year-old man in San Antonio, Texas. On or about March 9, 2025, after Salas pressed the minor female victim, she sent a video to Salas. After receiving that video, Salas still requested more explicit material from the victim.

Salas was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud on August 18, 2026. Salas previously pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.

During the hearing, Judge Tostrud described the offense conduct in this case as “depraved, cruel, and contemptable,” noting that the consequences to the victim may be “life long, life altering, and severe.” “No sentence can fully heal the harm that this defendant has done to this young girl and her family, but it will hold this repeat and dangerous sex offender accountable for his actions,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

“From the comfort of his home in San Antonio, Texas, Michael Salas engaged in a months-long campaign to sexually exploit an 11-year-old child in Minnesota. When caught, he attempted to take his own life. Thankfully, the FBI Special Agents who arrested him were successful in their lifesaving efforts,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Today’s sentence shows that no matter the distance, the FBI will make every effort to seek justice for child victims. Child sexual exploitation creates long-lasting trauma for victims, so it rightly carries long-lasting criminal consequences for offenders.”

“Today’s sentencing reflects the strength of collaboration between our local officers and our federal partners. By combining resources, expertise, and a shared commitment to public safety, we were able to bring this case forward effectively and ensure accountability. We remain dedicated to working together to protect our community,” said Plymouth Police Chief and Public Safety Director Erik Fadden.

This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, New Hope Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.

Assistant United States Attorney Albania Concepcion prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.