South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Gilberto Angel Valdiviez, Jr., 26, of Scranton, has been arrested on six charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led authorities to Valdiviez. According to investigators, Valdiviez is accused of distributing and possessing files containing child sexual abuse material.
Valdiviez was taken into custody on January 15, 2026. He faces one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-405), which is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He also faces five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-410), each carrying a potential penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Wilson stated: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is considered a more accurate term for these crimes than “child pornography,” as it emphasizes the abusive nature of the offenses rather than implying consent by minors.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office serves as the state’s chief prosecutor and provides victim support services along with public safety resources across South Carolina. The office publishes updates about its activities on its official website at https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/.
