Texas DPS AI-Generated CSAM Arrest (Covarrubias - South Texas Schoolchildren)

In May 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced the arrest of Adan Covarrubias, 31, of Carrizo Springs, in a case involving AI-generated child sexual abuse material targeting local children.

The investigation, led by the DPS Criminal Investigations Division alongside FBI Del Rio and the Dimmit County Sheriff's Office, ran for months. In April 2026, agents received consent to search and seize electronic devices at Covarrubias' residence.

Investigators say they found:

1. More than 900 images and videos of AI-generated child sexual abuse material allegedly created by Covarrubias, depicting both prepubescent and pubescent children
2. Additional non-AI-generated CSAM in the same seized evidence

Law enforcement determined that Covarrubias had taken photographs from open-source pages affiliated with South Texas schools and run them through AI tools to 'nudify' the children. Approximately 30 child victims have been identified to date.

Covarrubias was booked into the Dimmit County Jail on May 19, 2026 and charged with possession of computer-generated child pornography, a first-degree felony made chargeable under Texas Senate Bill 20, passed in the prior legislative session.

• AI 'nudify' tools used to transform ordinary photographs of real, identifiable children into sexual abuse imagery
• Tools enabled creation of hundreds of CSAM images from publicly available school-affiliated photos
• Lowered the technical barrier to producing realistic abuse material targeting specific local children

AI image-manipulation 'nudify' tools allowed an offender to convert innocuous, publicly posted photographs of identifiable schoolchildren into child sexual abuse material at scale. The harm fell on roughly 30 identified minors whose ordinary photos were sexualized without their knowledge or consent.

This is third-party harm facilitation involving minors: the AI user was the offender, and the victims were children whose images were exploited. Beyond the criminal nature of the material, victims of non-consensual AI sexualization face documented psychological, reputational, and safety harms.

• April 2026: As part of a months-long investigation, FBI Del Rio received consent to search and seize electronic devices at Covarrubias' residence in Carrizo Springs, Texas
• Investigators identified more than 900 images and videos of AI-generated child sexual abuse material allegedly created by Covarrubias, depicting both prepubescent and pubescent children; additional non-AI-generated CSAM was also found
• Law enforcement determined he had taken photos from open-source pages affiliated with South Texas schools and used AI tools to 'nudify' the children
• May 19, 2026: Adan Covarrubias, 31, booked into the Dimmit County Jail and charged with possession of computer-generated child pornography, a first-degree felony enabled by Texas Senate Bill 20
• Approximately 30 child victims identified to date
• Investigation conducted by the Texas DPS Criminal Investigations Division with the FBI and Dimmit County Sheriff's Office