Federal and state authorities arrested a Mexican national in North Dakota after investigators discovered child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Grand Forks Sector, working alongside the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, executed a federal search warrant Feb. 6 at a residence in Stanley, North Dakota.
During the search, law enforcement officers seized multiple electronic devices. Authorities said a forensic review of a cellphone belonging to Hugo Lopez-Diaz revealed the presence of child sexual abuse material.
Lopez-Diaz, identified by Border Patrol as an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested on state charges related to possession of child sexual abuse material. He is currently awaiting prosecution.
Officials said the investigation was conducted through coordinated efforts between federal and state agencies. Border Patrol agents assisted in executing the search warrant, while investigators from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations collected and reviewed evidence.
Authorities directed further questions regarding the prosecution to the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Child sexual abuse material cases are often pursued through joint task forces that combine local, state, and federal resources, particularly when digital evidence and immigration status are involved. Homeland Security Investigations regularly partners with local law enforcement in such cases.
No additional details about the case have been released, and court proceedings are pending.
