Yuma Border Patrol agent indicted in child porn case

A Yuma Border Patrol agent was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday for a series of alleged child pornography-related offenses.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Nereo Mejia Gomez, Jr., 41, of Yuma, was indicted for alleged production of child pornography and multiple counts of distributing and possessing child pornography, as well as possession of an unregistered firearm; specifically, a short-barreled rifle. A federal magistrate judge ordered that Gomez be released pending trial.

Gomez is an agent with the United States Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol.

The indictment alleges that, between November 2022 and March 2023, Gomez produced child pornography four times involving a girl who was ages 15 and 16. The indictment also alleges that Gomez distributed child pornography five times in February and March 2024 using a facility of interstate commerce and possessed child pornography and an unregistered firearm in April 2024.

According to the press release, if convicted, production of child pornography carries a potential sentence of 15-30 years in prison, while each count of distributing and possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Possession of an unregistered firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All child exploitation counts also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000 and a lifetime term of supervised release.

“An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” the press release stated.

Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution, and noted the Yuma Sector of the Border Patrol has been cooperative in the investigation.