Bust Made in Child Pornography Case

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A Los Angeles-area woman was charged Tuesday with producing child pornography and sex trafficking of children, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Letha Montemayor Tucker, 52, aka "Butterfly," faces a four-count indictment that could send her to prison for life, prosecutors said. If convicted of all four charges, she faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

"The indictment comes one month after tips provided by the public resulted in the identification of Tucker as one of two individuals allegedly involved in the production of a widely circulated series of child pornography images taken about 11 years ago," the U.S. attorney said in a statement.

"The pictures show an adult man, 'John Doe,' and a woman, now believed to be Tucker, sexually molesting a girl whom investigators have now confirmed was between 11 and 13 at the time the images were taken."

Tucker lived in a residential hotel in L.A. County and "worked as a prostitute," according to the indictment.

Child "Victim J.M.M." lived in the same hotel, and Tucker brought her to her room, smoked crack cocaine with her, and paid her in crack to have sex with clients, the indictment states. Tucker paid the John Doe to have sex with the girl, engaged in sex acts with her herself, and took photos, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors believe the photos were "produced" in the San Fernando Valley, the nation's pornography center.

John Doe's identity remains unknown His face is obscured in the pornography. He appeared to be a 40- to 50-year-old white man 11 years ago, prosecutors said. Anyone with information may call 1-866-3472 or go to the website http://www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp .

Tucker is being held without bond.

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