Christopher Pacas-Aragon, a resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Pacas-Aragon pleaded guilty to the charge on February 11, 2025.
“There is no place in our community for those who distribute child sexual abuse material, which only perpetuates the unspeakable crimes these victims have endured,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this horrific crime and our continued commitment to pursuing those who exploit children online.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message: those who exploit or harm children will be identified, investigated, and held fully accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who also oversees North and South Carolina. “HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities and working with our law enforcement partners to ensure predators face justice.”
Court documents show that Pacas-Aragon, age 27 and a registered sex offender, uploaded CSAM using the KIK messenger application. The investigation began when the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Data System provided a lead that a KIK user had uploaded three videos depicting CSAM; this user was later identified as Pacas-Aragon. Law enforcement detained him on November 1, 2022 after executing a warrant at his residence and found over 20,000 instances of CSAM.
The case was announced by Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Raleigh Police Department (RPD), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Wake County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to address child sexual exploitation and abuse by combining federal, state, and local resources to find offenders and rescue victims through coordinated efforts led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
