A Mexican national living illegally in the United States faces multiple federal charges in North Carolina involving child sexual exploitation and firearm possession, federal authorities announced Monday.
A federal grand jury in the Western District of North Carolina indicted Francisco Rosales Ortiz on 10 counts, including the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), possession and access with intent to view CSAM, and unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien.
Court documents allege that between June 2025 and March 2026, Ortiz used a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce visual depictions of the abuse. Prosecutors also allege he illegally possessed three firearms while residing in the country without legal status.
The alleged offences took place in Gaston County, North Carolina. Local law enforcement officers with the Gastonia Police Department arrested Ortiz on April 2, 2026. He was transferred into the custody of the United States Marshals Service on August 3.
Federal officials state that Ortiz claimed to have illegally entered the U.S. in 2005 at an unknown location.
The prosecution follows a joint effort between local police and federal law enforcement agencies, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of HSI, this criminal illegal alien from Mexico is off our streets,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in a statement released Monday. “He has now been charged with producing child pornography and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. I want to thank our partners at the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this disgusting individual. Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure he is removed from our country and can no longer prey on innocent children in America ever again.”
Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito of HSI Carolinas emphasized the agency’s focus on severe offenses involving minors.
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting our communities from those who seek to exploit the most vulnerable among us—our children. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice individuals who commit these heinous crimes,” Zito said. “We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that offenders are held accountable and that our neighborhoods remain safe places for children to grow and thrive.”
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson highlighted the federal government’s mandate regarding foreign nationals who commit crimes within the country.
“We are not going to stand by while illegal aliens come to our country and exploit our children,” Ferguson said. “There are plenty of people in line to legally come to the United States. They should not be forced to the back of the line for someone like Ortiz, who is charged with sexually abusing a child and illegally possessing firearms.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is handling the prosecution of the case.
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