GREENFIELD — Nathaniel Ray Diaz, 21, of Greenfield, was arraigned April 21 after a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment that charged him with sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and obstruction of justice, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
According to court documents, Diaz was serving a three-year sentence at Avenal State Prison in Kings County for committing lewd acts against a 12-year-old and making criminal threats with a gun. Between July 5, 2024, and Nov. 25, 2024, Diaz used prison phones, a CDCR-issued tablet, and prison-monitored ViaPath messaging equipment to communicate with the victim.
Although Diaz had a 10-year no contact order for a minor, he placed thousands of calls to the minor.
“He instructed the minor to create and transmit to him images of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct,” stated a news release. “When Diaz learned that someone had contacted law enforcement about the communications, he directed people to delete evidence.”
If convicted, Diaz faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 50 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the sexual exploitation of a child, a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for attempted receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted of the obstruction of justice charge, Diaz faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables,” stated the release. “The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
