LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-olf former teacher has been charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.

 

Ruben Guillermo Ulloa was taken into custody today and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo Garcia. At that time, Ulloa was ordered into custody pending a probable cause and detention hearing set for Dec. 20.    

 

The case originated when a 15-year-old who was receiving piano lessons from the Ulloa made a report to authorities, according to the complaint. Ulloa had allegedly been having a sexual relationship with the teenager, whom he had previously taught at a Laredo area school.

 

The criminal complaint alleges that authorities executed a search warrant on Ulloa’s home and recovered several computers and electronic devices. A forensic search of these devices uncovered pornographic images of the child, which Ulloa had allegedly taken.

 

Ulloa is charged with production of child pornography and faces a minimum of 15  and up to 30 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.           

 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas A&M International University Police and the Laredo Police Department.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa is prosecuting the case, which 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

 

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.