Merrillville Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children / Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material
HAMMOND — A Merrillville man has been charged in federal court with the production of child sexual abuse material following his return from an international trip and a subsequent border search conducted at O’Hare International Airport.
Miguel Angel Lopez was charged on July 29, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana with Sexual Exploitation of Children / Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). The charge stems from alleged conduct involving multiple minors between July 6 and July 26, 2025.
According to court documents, on July 28, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at O’Hare received a lookout notification from the National Targeting Center, indicating that Lopez was suspected of purchasing child sexual abuse material through online platforms. Lopez was encountered during a secondary inspection after returning from Cancun, Mexico.
During a border search of his Samsung Galaxy S24, CBP officers observed media believed to depict CSAM. Homeland Security Investigations agents responded to assist. Upon further review of the device, law enforcement discovered additional material and communications in which Lopez allegedly directed minors on how to pose and provided payments in exchange for explicit content.
According to the affidavit, Lopez admitted to participating in explicit online conversations with minors and acknowledged knowing they were under 18. He told investigators he began talking to minors online within the past year, and when asked whether he would stop chatting once learning someone was underage, Lopez stated he would continue the conversation. He also reportedly told agents he has always had a thing for younger guys.
