Reported / Citable
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.
Eduardo Brito Leaton pleaded guilty May 14 to sexual exploitation of a child and to committing that felony offense while required to register as a sex offender.
“Eduardo Leaton’s actions inflicted profound and lasting harm on a vulnerable child, and today’s lengthy sentence underscores this office’s unwavering commitment to protecting the most innocent among us,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “In this district, those who target minors will face the full measure of federal justice. We will use every lawful tool at our disposal to ensure offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable.”
“Predators who target children, whether across the street or across international borders, will be held accountable,” said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. “This 60-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Leaton’s crimes and the unwavering commitment of our HSI special agents, and all our law enforcement partners in the fight to protect children and pursue justice for victims.”
According to court documents, on June 15, 2024, Leaton used an internet‑connected cellular telephone to induce a 13‑year‑old minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual media, which were transmitted via the Internet, a means of interstate and foreign commerce. Investigators later traced the communications to Leaton, who was residing at the Dallas Transitional Housing Center. His cellular telephone was seized during a parole‑related contact, and a search warrant revealed digital evidence supporting the offense.
Court documents revealed that Leaton was required to register as a sex offender due to multiple prior convictions, including three Dallas County convictions from 2021 for possession or promotion of child pornography, which require lifetime registration under Texas law, and several convictions from Los Angeles County, California, for sexual offenses involving minors. While under those registration requirements, he committed the June 2024 offense involving the minor victim.
Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor sentenced Leaton to 600 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and 120 months for committing a felony offense against a minor victim while being required to register as a sex offender. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 720 months.
Homeland Security Investigations Dallas; Waterloo, Canada Regional Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Dallas Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade from the Violent Crimes section prosecuted the case.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Northern District of Texas — U.S. Department of Justice press release.