McAllen, TX — A 32-year-old Rio Grande City man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the sexual exploitation of minors, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Jorge Alberto Bazan pleaded guilty May 27. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered him to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to federal prosecutors, authorities identified Bazan in 2025 during investigations conducted through social media.
Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 24, 2025, Bazan communicated with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child. Prosecutors said he expressed an interest in engaging in sexual activity with the minor and solicited sexually explicit images.
Bazan also provided instructions on receiving and deleting images, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As part of his supervised release, Bazan will be required to comply with restrictions involving his access to children and the internet. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Bazan remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The FBI’s McAllen office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.