A federal grand jury has indicted Ralph Contreras Jr., a 39-year-old former corrections sergeant from Chowchilla, California, on charges of receiving and distributing child pornography. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the indictment in Fresno.
Court documents reveal that between September 2024 and January 2025, Contreras received and distributed at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At the time of these offenses, he was employed as a corrections sergeant with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The investigation leading to this indictment was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is handling the prosecution.
If found guilty, Contreras could face up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a fine up to $250,000. However, any sentence would be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It is important to note that these charges are allegations, and Contreras is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab for internet-safety education.
