Previously deported Mexican national sentenced to 3 years in prison for child pornography

The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington announced that US District Judge Tana Lin handed down the sentence for receiving images of child sexual abuse, emphasizing the lifelong impact of child exploitation on victims.

“Children are scarred for life,” Judge Lin said during the October 1, 2025, sentencing, adding that Neri-Soto will likely be deported after completing his prison term. “Any chance of achieving the American dream is now over.”

The investigation began in October 2024 when WhatsApp reported images of child sexual abuse uploaded by a user of its platform. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded the CyberTip to the Bothell Police Department in January 2025.

Using the phone number, IP address, and device information, detectives traced the activity to Neri-Soto. After conducting surveillance, officers arrested him in March 2025. During intake at the Bothell Police Department, fingerprints revealed he had previously been registered as a sex offender. His registration was removed in 2017 when he was transferred to federal authorities for deportation.

Federal investigators with the FBI assisted in examining the electronic devices seized from Neri-Soto. A forensic review uncovered numerous images of child sexual abuse, leading to federal charges for receiving such material.

Prosecutors, in their sentencing memorandum, noted that Neri-Soto had prior convictions involving child sexual abuse material. They wrote that by possessing these images, he contributed to an industry that “makes its profits at the expense of children” and warned that continued demand for such material drives ongoing exploitation.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lin ordered five years of supervised release. However, because Neri-Soto is expected to be deported after completing his sentence, the supervision may not be carried out within the United States.

The case was investigated by the Bothell Police Department with support from the FBI. Assistant US Attorney Cecelia Gregson prosecuted the case.

The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify offenders, rescue victims, and prosecute crimes involving child exploitation.