Texas man charged with exploiting minors in California on social media

HOUSTON, Texas — A Texas man was charged last week on federal charges for allegedly exploiting two California minors through social media, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Thomas Henry Lopez, 49, of Spring is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of transferring obscene material to a minor.

According to court documents, Lopez contacted two California minors between June and July 2024 via TikTok, before moving the communication to text messages and the encrypted app JusTalk. Lopez allegedly posed as a 12-year-old boy, requested sexually explicit images from the victims and sent them pornographic content.

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Investigators traced Lopez’s internet activity to his home and workplace, where he worked as a lead well engineer for an oil and gas company. FBI agents arrested Lopez on Sept. 3 at the Houston airport as he prepared to leave for a work trip to Singapore.

The parents of both children have been questioned and informed of the crime and the arrest.

The case, being investigated by the FBI and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.

If convicted, Lopez faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation charges. The distribution charge carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years, while the obscene material charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Each charge also carries potential fines of up to $250,000.

Lopez is due to appear before a federal judge in Houston on September 13.