Christopher Pacas-Aragon, a resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He pleaded guilty to the charge on February 11, 2025.
“There is no place in our community for those who distribute child sexual abuse material, which only perpetuates the unspeakable crimes these victims have endured,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this horrific crime and our continued commitment to pursuing those who exploit children online.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message: those who exploit or harm children will be identified, investigated, and held fully accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who also oversees North and South Carolina. “HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities and working with our law enforcement partners to ensure predators face justice.”
Court documents showed that Pacas-Aragon, age 27 and a registered sex offender, uploaded CSAM using the KIK messenger application. Law enforcement officials from the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were alerted by a lead from the Internet Crimes Against Children Data System about uploads of three videos depicting CSAM by a KIK user later identified as Pacas-Aragon. Authorities detained him on November 1, 2022, after executing a search warrant at his home where they found over 20,000 instances of CSAM.
The case was announced by Daniel P. Bubar following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The investigation involved RPD, HSI, and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at fighting child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to identify offenders and rescue victims. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
