Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-Old
WILMINGTON, Del. / Friday, September 11, 2026 – A Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, Leobardo Carrasco, 39, of Wilmington, communicated with multiple minors on Snapchat, where he engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent them nude photos of himself, and asked the minors to send nude photographs and videos to him. For example, Carrasco convinced a 9-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos and to also share her location with him over Snapchat. After receiving her location, Carrasco traveled from Delaware to the girl’s Maryland residence in the middle of the night and tried to convince her to come with him. The girl did not get in his vehicle and Carrasco left.
Carrasco is charged in a criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b); production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a); receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2); and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). If convicted, Carrasco faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. The FBI Baltimore’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with assistance from Anne Arundel County Police Department and Army Criminal Investigation (CID) Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-mj-466.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Delaware
