West Haven man pleads guilty to sending and receiving CSAM through social media

WEST HAVEN, Utah (ABC4) — The West Haven man accused of sending and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through social media has pleaded guilty to three of the

Andres Rafael Diaz, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

He pleaded not guilty to the remaining 19 charges — nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and 10 counts of unlawful distribution of an intimate image — and they were dismissed with prejudice as part of the plea agreement.

Utah law states that for his first-degree felony conviction, he can be sentenced to five years to life in prison. For his two second-degree felony convictions of sexual exploitation of a minor, he can be sentenced from 1 to 15 years in prison.

Diaz’s sentencing is set for September 9, 2025. ABC4.com is following the case and will keep you updated on what happens next.

Background

In June 2024, a social media company sent in a tip bout an account that was uploading and distributing CSAM online. Over a year, several search warrants and court orders finally led investigators to connect the account to Diaz. During the investigation, they received more tip lines, also confirmed to be connected to Diaz.

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at Diaz’s residence and made contact with him. Documents say that he admitted to owning the accounts and sending and receiving CSAM on the social media platform. He told investigators he was “unsure how many files of CSAM he sent to other users, but that it was a lot.”

Through social media, Diaz allegedly had graphic sexual conversations about underage children — including some that he knew in person — with other users. In these conversations, he also sometimes shared photos of an intimate partner, who told police they did not consent to those photos being sent to people other than Diaz.