FRESNO -  On May 2, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Timothy Austin Panuco, 34, of Fresno, charging him with receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed following his arrest today.

According to court documents, between Feb. 1, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Panuco received material depicting at least one or more minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

If convicted, Panuco faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years, with a mandatory minimum of five years, and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after considering any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider several variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.