A 25–year-old Lakeway, TX, man faces federal production, distribution and possession of child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

A 52-count federal indictment returned earlier this month and unsealed yesterday, charges Luann Fabric Campos Leao Hida (aka “Luann Hida,” “Luann Leao,” and “LOTR”) with 24 counts of production of child pornography, 27 counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

According to the indictment, from October 2014 to July 2018, Hida allegedly produced images and videos depicting 15 children engaged in sexually explicit activities.

Each production charge calls for a minimum of 15 years in federal prison upon conviction.  Each distribution charge calls for a minimum of five years in federal prison upon conviction.  Possession of child pornography calls for up to ten years in federal prison upon conviction.  Hida remains in federal custody following his initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Austin.  

The FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying other potential victims of Luann Hida, who is also known by his screen name “The LOTR” or "TXLOTR". If you believe your child or other children may have been in contact with Luann Hida, please contact the Austin FBI via email at TXLOTRvictims@fbi.gov.  You can also complete a secure, confidential, online questionnaire, and obtain additional information on the FBI's webpage www.fbi.gov/sanantonio.  The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates and provide these victims with information, assistance services and resources.

The FBI together with the Lakeway Police Department, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Bee Cave Police Department, Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case.  We also thank the Center for Child Protection, Travis County, for its assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys G. Karthik Srinivasan and Keith M. Henneke are prosecuting the case on behalf of the Government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.