An Army soldier stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, was arrested last week on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of files depicting child sexual abuse
Seth Herrera was also charged with using AI to generate sexually explicit images of children, officials stated on Monday.
According to court documents, Herrera, 34, allegedly transported, received, and possessed files depicting child sexual abuse. Herrera also allegedly used online AI chatbots to generate realistic child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting minors known to him.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said: “As alleged, the defendant used AI tools to morph images of real kids into horrific child sexual abuse material. Criminals considering the use of AI to perpetuate their crimes should stop and think twice — because the Department of Justice is prosecuting AI-enabled criminal conduct to the fullest extent of the law and will seek increased sentences wherever warranted.”
“As alleged, Seth Herrera possessed thousands of images depicting the violent sexual abuse of children, including infants. He also allegedly used AI to create images depicting the sexual exploitation of children he knew,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal
Herrera is charged with one count of transportation of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
HSI and the Department of Defense Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson for the District of Alaska are prosecuting the case.