Illegal Alien from Ecuador Caught with Hidden App Containing Child Pornography, Will Spend 10 Years in Federal Prison

DEL RIO, Texas - An illegal alien from Ecuador was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, on June 15, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Jefferson Chancay-Sanchez, 26, with a group of individuals near Uvalde. Chancay-Sanchez had unlawfully entered the U.S. near the Eagle Pass Port of Entry and was placed under arrest. A search of his cellphone led to the discovery of an application disguised as a calculator, a method typically used to hide criminal behavior. When questioned about the app, Chancay-Sanchez, who was visibly nervous, stated it contained personal photographs of his girlfriend. Further investigation of the app revealed multiple photos which were sexually explicit in nature, including multiple images depicting child genitalia.

Chancay-Sanchez admitted to downloading the CSAM from WhatsApp and saving it to the hidden folder on his phone. A forensic examination of his cellphone resulted in the discovery of 31 images and one video depicting CSAM. An additional 48 images and 15 videos were located and considered to be child erotica material. Some of the CSAM depicted toddlers, prepubescent, and adolescent males and females engaged in sexual activity.

Chancay-Sanchez was named in a two-count indictment on July 16, 2025, and charged with one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession and access with intent to view child prepubescent pornography. He pleaded guilty to both counts on Dec. 22, 2025. U.S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez presided over the case.

The U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Ellis-Dotson and Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Shilling handled the sentencing.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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