A high-ranking former Maryland state official who served below Republican Gov. Larry Hogan made his first look in federal courtroom on Thursday after he was charged final week with distributing little one sexual abuse photos.
Luis Borunda, a former deputy secretary of state below Hogan, was charged with two counts of distribution of kid pornography, sexual exploitation of a kid, and possession of kid pornography, in line with a federal indictment obtained by JS.
Borunda was initially arrested by local law enforcement in August of final yr and charged with sexual solicitation of a minor, after allegedly arranging to fulfill with an investigator who posed as a 13-year-old lady named “Chloe,” Capital Gazette reported at the time.
Luis E. Borunda X/ Previously Twitter
Based on charging paperwork cited by the newspaper, Borunda had contacted “Chloe” by means of a web-based chat and launched himself as “Steve.”
Borunda allegedly believed “Chloe” was 13 years outdated and requested her if she needed to fulfill, telling her he was an older man who favored youthful ladies, in line with the Gazette. Borunda additionally allegedly informed her that he had met 15-year-olds prior to now and mentioned their assembly could be “sizzling and naughty.”
The 2 would ultimately transfer their conversations to Discord, a messaging platform widespread amongst avid gamers. On Discord, Borunda allegedly despatched “Chloe” a extremely filtered photograph of himself, in line with the newspaper.
Authorities made their arrest throughout a sting operation on Aug. 30, once they caught Borunda making an attempt to fulfill “Chloe” in a park, per the Gazette.
Based on Borunda’s not too long ago filed federal indictment, he’s additionally accused of manufacturing and distributing little one sexual abuse materials throughout state traces and internationally.
Prosecutors famous within the indictment {that a} video file on a cellphone depicted Borunda performing sexual acts with a “Jane Doe.” It’s unclear whether or not the Jane Doe was a minor, however prosecutors mentioned this video was despatched to an underaged lady to coerce her into intercourse, in line with the doc.
Investigators continued to seek out extra little one intercourse abuse materials on Borunda’s units, in line with the indictment.
Earlier than being appointed to Hogan’s cupboard, Borunda served on the Maryland Financial Growth Fee and the Baltimore Board of Schooling.
In 2017, President Donald Trump quietly introduced Borunda as one of many three officers he meant to nominate to research allegations of voter fraud within the 2016 election. Shortly after being appointed, Borunda resigned from the fee that very same yr for unknown causes.
