Modesto man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting five minors via social media

A Modesto man has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation charges involving five minors, using popular social media platforms to commit his crimes. Daniel Vincent Salazar Jr., 28, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from incidents that occurred between December 2018 and January 2020. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Salazar used Instagram and Snapchat in his attempts to contact and coerce underage females.

Cornered when threatened, victims were forced to produce and send Salazar sexually explicit images. He bullied his way through, unrepentant, to maintain control—and threatened to distribute the explicit images he had already obtained to their peers and families if they did not comply. The consequences of Salazar’s actions now move into the hands of U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, who will preside over the sentencing on January 13, 2025.

The range of punishment in this case varies considerably – from a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to a potential 30-year prison sentence, along with a fine that could reach $250,000. Additionally, Salazar could face up to life in prison with supervised release after his incarceration. Not only will Salazar be limited to these sentences, but he will also be forced to pay restitution to his victims, with the final sentence being imposed taking into account statutory factors and federal sentencing guidelines.

This disturbing case is the product of a collaborative effort by multiple law enforcement agencies, including Patterson Police Services, the Los Angeles and San Jose police departments, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, along with state and federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa is leading the prosecution of the case, which stems from Project Safe Childhood—an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to actively combat the growing scourge of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute child abusers and, crucially, rescue victims. For more details and resources on Internet safety, visit the official Project Safe Childhood website.