A Norwalk man is facing federal charges for allegedly posing as a teenager and deceiving minors across the country into producing and sending child sexual abuse material to him on Snapchat, officials announced Wednesday.
Antonio Diaz Jr., 28, was arrested Tuesday on a 22-count indictment filed in Los Angeles federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment said the minors range in age from 9 to 16 years old and live in California, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Vermont.
Diaz pleaded not guilty at his arraignment late Tuesday and was ordered jailed without bond. A tentative trial date was scheduled for July 13.
Charges include multiple counts each of sexual exploitation of a child for the purpose of producing a sexually explicit visual depiction, enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and receipt of child pornography.
The alleged conduct occurred from June to October 2024, officials said.