An Army specialist from El Paso has admitted in federal court to an online child exploitation spree that stretched from Alaska to Texas, involving the dark web, encrypted apps, and artificial intelligence tools prosecutors say he used to twist everyday images of children into abuse material.
Prosecutors say 36-year-old Seth Herrera pleaded guilty Wednesday in Anchorage federal court under a written plea agreement to attempting to produce child sexual abuse material that depicted minors he knew, and to trafficking that material across state lines. The plea follows a multi-agency investigation that officials say uncovered tens of thousands of abusive images and videos on his devices.
Prosecutors Say He Tapped Dark Web, Encrypted Apps
According to federal court filings and a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, Herrera began using The Onion Router (TOR) and encrypted messaging apps in March 2021 to seek, receive, and transport child sexual abuse material.
Investigators say he joined hundreds of Telegram groups and channels and uploaded more than 100 files to a publicly accessible group. When law enforcement seized his devices in May 2024, they reported finding tens of thousands of videos and images that depicted victims ranging from infants through pubescence.
Allegations Include Secret Recordings, AI Image “Morphing”
Local reporting and court records indicate Herrera went beyond downloading material already circulating online. According to KTUU/Alaska’s News Source, investigators say he used AI chatbots to “morph” seemingly ordinary photos of children, including minors known to him, into sexually explicit images…