Texas couple convicted of conspiracy and production of child sexual abuse material

LUBBOCK, Texas - United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that on Nov. 4, a federal jury convicted Marcus Xavier Anguiano, 31, and his wife, Maddie Rhea Anguiano, 29, of multiple federal offenses related to the production, receipt, and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Following a multi-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, both defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to produce and attempt to produce child pornography; production and attempted production of child pornography; and receipt and distribution of child pornography.

"We convicted these two predators, who elected to go to trial, after they exploited their own family members to produce child pornography," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "The evidence presented at trial revealed a calculated scheme to secretly record a child and distribute those images. Those images will forever haunt this child victim, and I expect that both defendants will spend the rest of their lives in federal prison. I commend the prosecutors in my office, the FBI, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center for their outstanding work in securing this conviction. Our office will always prioritize protecting vulnerable victims and bringing offenders to justice."

"This verdict reflects the strength of a unified response across federal law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, said AFOSI Public Affairs Director Cathy Close. "When agencies combine their expertise and resources, they can expose those who harm children and ensure they are held responsible for their crimes. Safeguarding children from predatory exploitation remains one of AFOSI's highest priorities."

"The FBI is committed to identifying and bringing to justice individuals who create, distribute, or receive child sexual abuse material," said R. Joseph Rothrock, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Office. "We will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect children and support victims."

According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, the Anguianos conspired to surreptitiously capture and transmit explicit images and video of a minor victim. In June 2018, Maddie Anguiano secretly filmed a young female while the child was being bathed at a residence in Lubbock, Texas, and transmitted the footage via Facebook Messenger to Marcus Anguiano, who was residing at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

In August 2019, special agents with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations seized Marcus Anguiano's cell phone at Mountain Home Air Force Base. A forensic examination conducted by the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center uncovered dozens of screenshots and media files extracted from the livestreamed transmission, as well as electronic messages between the couple discussing secret recordings, hidden cameras, and how to send and conceal those recordings.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 25, 2027. Both defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of up to 80 years in federal prison.

The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI conducted the investigation, with forensic analysis provided by the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Woolam, Stephen Rancourt, and Tyler Smotherman from the Lubbock Division prosecuted the case.

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