A California man convicted of a federal sex crimes in Oklahoma was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison.
John Kenneth Calderon Bastro, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City following his November plea of guilt to causing distribution of child pornography. Bastro was accused of soliciting explicit images from a 10-year-old boy in western Oklahoma.
In the case, Bastro offered the young boy video game cheat codes in exchange for graphic sexual photographs sent to the perpetrator via text messages. According to court testimony, Bastro and the victim met online playing a video game on XBox LIVE. Bastro invited the boy into a private chat where they exchanged phone numbers.
The victim was offered 20 video game cheat codes if he would text explicit photos of himself to Bastro. The boy's mother became concerned and notified authorities after finding text messages from the out-of-state phone number on her child's cell phone.
Child pornography and computer sex crimes in Oklahoma are frequently prosecuted as federal sex offenses. Sexting, soliciting minors online, possession of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography are all sex offenses that are frequently perpetrated over the internet or mobile technology.
Because these crimes take place online, they frequently occur across state lines, making federal charges almost inevitable. Federal sex crimes in Oklahoma are prosecuted by U.S. District Attorneys, presided over by a federal judge in one of Oklahoma's three U.S. District Courts, and defended by Oklahoma federal criminal defense attorneys. The U.S. District Courts and locations in Oklahoma include:
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Oklahoma in Tulsa
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee
The prosecution in a federal case is often supported by investigation conducted by specialized government agencies such as the FBI, ATF, and DEA. Sentencing in federal court is often much more stringent than sentencing by the local courts, with prison sentences to be served in federal penitentiaries rather than state prisons.
For these reasons, it is imperative that anyone charged with federal sex offense obtain legal representation from an Oklahoma defense lawyer who is also an experienced federal sex crime defense attorney. If you have been charged with a federal offense in Oklahoma's Western District following an accusation of child pornography, internet sex crimes, or other federal sex crimes, contact our law firm for a consultation with federal sex crime defense lawyers in Oklahoma City.
