A Universal City man receives 60 years for child exploitation crimes after his employer reports him to the FBI.
SAN ANTONIO — A Universal City man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 60 years in prison on charges related to sexual exploitation of children.
Christopher Lee Castano, 44, committed sexual acts against at least half a dozen children, prosecutors say.
Officials said an employer contacted the FBI in 2022 after discovering Castano had transferred child sexual abuse material to and from external devices using his employer’s computer system.
A federal search warrant led to finding images produced by Castano between 2015 and 2018 when a child female victim was between the ages of 11 and 14 years old. The FBI also found images and videos showing another minor female that were produced around 2016 when that victim was between the ages of five and 26 months old.
Castano pleaded guilty to three counts on Oct. 12, 2023, and was sentenced to 720 months, or 60 years. He was also ordered pay restitution to the child victims in the case.
“Unless he lives well into his hundreds, this child predator is rightfully going to serve what is essentially a life sentence for the heinous crimes he has committed against at least half a dozen children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “I thank Castano’s employer for reporting his actions to our partners at the FBI, who helped us achieve this just sentence. While this does not erase what the child victims endured.
The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.