A woman arrested last night in North Hills in connection with an 11-year-old child pornography case was identified Friday by federal agents.
The hunt continues for a man and two others involved in the case.
The man's face had been purposely obscured in images acquired and displayed by agents who say the investigation is continuing. He is believed to be between 40 and 50 years of age.
"We still want the public's help in identifying 'John Doe' and the victim in the disturbing series of images that continue to be circulated on the Internet," U.S. Attorney Andre Briotte said.
Letha Mae Montemayor, 52, was arrested outside an apartment complex at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, along with Los Angeles Police Department officers, ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said.
"Montemayor's arrest came less than 10 hours after HSI and the U.S. Attorney's Office released photographs of an unidentified man and woman, known only as "Jane Doe" and "John Doe," sought in connection with a child sexual exploitation case," Kice said.
The break in the case came after federal authorities in Los Angeles asked the public's help Thursday in identifying a man and woman charged with producing child pornography in the San Fernando Valley.
Agents received their first tip at 2 p.m. Thursday, within hours of their news conference. Four additional tips, identifying Montemayor as the likely suspect, led to the woman being placed under surveillance prior to her arrest.
She is charged in a federal criminal complaint with one count of production of child pornography, Kice said.
Montemayor was expected to make an initial court appearance Monday at the Royball Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles, according to the Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's office.
"This significant development brings us one step closer to vindicating the victim and helping to regain some dignity for all victims of child exploitation crimes," said U.S. Attorney Andre Briotte.
The charges involve a widely circulated series of child porn images believed to have been taken about 11 years ago in Encino and elsewhere in the Valley.
The pictures in the case show a male and female adult sexually molesting a girl who appears to be about 13.
The identity of the girl has not been determined.
Montemayor's son, Paul Tucker, told KCAL9 he met the alleged victim when he was living with his mother, but she was not a minor.
"She was 18 ... just looked real young, but over 18," Tucker told the station.
Tucker said his mother was working as a prostitute at the time the photos were taken, and Montemayor knew the alleged victim's mother.
"The story we had gotten from her was that her mother was prostituting her and that maybe my mom had gotten in a fight with her mother," Tucker told Channel 9. "... She said her mother had left her high and dry with a drug habit."
He said he did not know the man shown in the photos, but said he may have been a potential client.
Anyone with information or tips that can assist the investigation was urged to call (866) 347-2423 or access http://www.ice.gov/tips.
-- Saul Daniels contributed to this report.
Source: http://northhollywood.patch.com/articles/feds-continue-hunt-for-john-doe-child-pornography-suspect
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