January 13, 2021 - SAN FRANCISCO - A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Christian Guardado on one count of the distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Homeland Security Investigations NorCal Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.  Guardado made his initial appearance in federal court on the indictment yesterday.

According to the indictment, Guardado, 24, of San Mateo, is alleged to have distributed a video on or about February 21, 2019, of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

The government filed a motion, now unsealed, to detain Guardado in custody pending trial.  In the motion, the government asserts that Guardado sexually abused a 15 year old male victim during the fall of 2018 and filmed video of the minor victim engaged in sex acts.  The government alleges Guardado distributed one of the videos to another adult male, then followed up with the message, “This is some other 15 year old.”  The government also alleges Guardado filmed a pornographic video with at least one other suspected underage male victim and sent it to another person in exchange for payment.

The government further states that Guardado traveled to Spain in part because of Spain’s lower age of sexual consent than the United States.

The government also asserts that Guardado contacted other suspected minor victims online on social media applications and that he formerly was associated with a children’s camp.

Investigators are asking anyone who has further information about Christian Guardado or his activities that may be relevant to this case to call Homeland Security Investigations tip line at (866) 347-2423.

Guardado has been charged with distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2252(a)(2).  Defendant was arrested on Friday, January 8, 2021, and made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday in San Francisco before United States Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse.  Defendant is currently being held at Santa Rita Jail pending a detention hearing scheduled for January 14, 2021, before United States Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse.          

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted on the distribution of child pornography charge, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a supervised release term of five years, a fine of $250,000, a special assessment of $100, possible criminal forfeiture, and restitution.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. 

Yoosun Koh is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jasmine Sanders and Daniel Fuentes.  The prosecution is the result of an ongoing investigation by Homeland Security Investigations NorCal and the San Mateo Police Department. 
Source: DOJ