KC Reporter

A former resident of Columbia, Missouri, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography. Diego Antonio Rafael Camargo-Wasserman, 32, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough and will not be eligible for parole. Upon completion of his prison term, Camargo-Wasserman will serve 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender, adhering to federal and state requirements potentially for life.

Camargo-Wasserman pleaded guilty on August 8, 2024, to one count of receipt and one count of possession of child pornography. The investigation, which began on July 1, 2010, revealed that Camargo-Wasserman had used Limewire to download child pornography, with evidence found on his cell phone. Although initially indicted in 2010, charges were dismissed in 2013 after a bail bond agent presented documentation from Mexico declaring Camargo-Wasserman dead on October 5, 2012. However, in July 2017, the FBI discovered that Camargo-Wasserman was alive and residing in Mexico, leading to renewed charges in 2018 and subsequent extradition proceedings.

The prosecution of Camargo-Wasserman was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner, with the investigation carried out by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Camargo-Wasserman holds dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico.

This case forms part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating resources to apprehend offenders and protect victims. More information can be found on their website, www.usdoj.gov/psc.