A Lowell resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to child sexual abuse material. Steven Estrada Ramirez, 23, admitted on November 24, 2025, to receiving and possessing child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris. Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2026. Estrada was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
Authorities identified Estrada as a participant in several groups on a mobile chat application that were primarily used for sharing and viewing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). At the time of his arrest, law enforcement found a USB drive in his possession containing more than 700 video files depicting CSAM. Some of the files showed children estimated to be between one and eight years old. Additionally, the home screen of Estrada’s cell phone displayed an image of CSAM, and investigators discovered thousands of images and videos depicting CSAM on the device.
The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine that could reach $250,000. The charge of possession carries up to 20 years in prison with similar terms for supervised release and fines. After serving any imposed sentence, Estrada will also face deportation proceedings. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today.” “Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.”
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to locate offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.