Zapata resident sent to prison for uploading child sexual assault material to Facebook

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced for possessing child pornography and exploiting children, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Kevin Montemayor pleaded guilty March 28, 2022.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now sentenced Montemayor to 15 years for the possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 180-month-term of imprisonment. Montemayor was further ordered to pay $42,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Montemayor will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Montemayor came to the attention of law enforcement after they learned an IP address associated with him had posted child sexual abuse material over Facebook Messenger.

On Aug. 9, 2020, authorities executed a search warrant at Montemayor’s residence and found several electronic devices containing child pornography. Law enforcement then seized the devices and took Montemayor into custody.

Authorities later identified a victim who claimed she met Montemayor over the instant messaging application Kik when she was only 15. She claimed Montemayor sexually extorted her for child sexual abuse material by threatening to leak her images if she did not continue to supply Montemayor with more explicit material.

Montemayor will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.