Texas

February 2026

Multiple students (mostly underage high schoolers) and adult staff members from Itasca ISD and neighboring districts

A former Itasca High School student (juvenile) used an AI platform to create digitally altered, sexually explicit nude images of current students and staff from Itasca ISD and neighboring districts. A fellow student discovered the images on the suspect's cellphone and reported it to authorities. The suspect had withdrawn from the district in January 2026.

Outcome: The former student was arrested and charged with engaging in delinquent conduct. The Texas Rangers and Itasca Police Department are jointly leading the ongoing investigation, seizing the suspect's phone for forensic analysis.

May 27, 2025

Images depicted children (specific victims under investigation)

Brian Vincent Rausch, an FBI intelligence analyst, was arrested with over 1,000 explicit images including real CSAM and AI-generated images 'indistinguishable from actual children.' Search warrant executed at his home.

Outcome: Faces 7 felony charges: 5 state counts possession of child pornography plus 2 federal charges. Two charges stem specifically from AI-generated content. Released on bond.

March 12, 2025

At least 2 identified 10-year-old students; potentially more from his work at ~20 schools

A Texas DPS undercover operation identified a 5th-grade teacher's computer sharing CSAM via peer-to-peer networks. A search warrant uncovered over 365,000 CSAM files, and investigators found he had taken classroom photos of his students, then used an AI image generator to digitally 'de-clothe' at least two 10-year-old students. He had also worked as a substitute at approximately 20 other Austin ISD schools.

Outcome: Arrested on 1st-degree felony charges, federally indicted, and pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography, facing up to 20 years in federal prison.

January 8, 2025

AI-generated (no identifiable real-child victims)

Daniel Weatherly, 42, used AI to create images of minors aged 5-8 in sexually explicit conduct via text prompts. Entirely AI-generated from prompts, not deepfakes of real children.

Outcome: Pled guilty. Sentenced to 2 years federal prison for possession of obscene visual depiction of a minor. 3 years supervised release.

September 2024

11 underage girls

Jack Bullington, 19, cropped faces of 11 underage girls onto nude bodies using AI and posted the images on X/Twitter. He also sent images overseas and agreed to pay for modifications. Nearly 100 altered images found.

Outcome: Arrested on 12 charges: 10 counts possession/promotion of lewd material depicting a child, 1 count child pornography possession, 1 count promotion. Bonded out with conditions.

June 28, 2024

At least 1 female, age 17

Roman Shoffner, 30, used an AI nudify program to remove clothing from a photo of a 17-year-old girl (his wife's teenage relative). His wife discovered the image on his phone. First AI child pornography arrest in Montgomery County.

Outcome: Charged with possession of child pornography under HB 2700. Re-arrested March 2025 as a 'top 10 fugitive' in Montgomery County.

October 2, 2023

Elliston Berry and at least 8 other girls

Elliston Berry, 14, of Aledo, Texas, discovered a classmate used AI to create fake nude images of her and at least 8 other girls, distributed via Snapchat. Her family's efforts to remove images were unsuccessful until Sen. Ted Cruz's office intervened.

Outcome: Sen. Cruz's office intervened to remove images. Berry became a catalyst for the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

October 2, 2023

Elliston Berry and approximately 9 other female classmates, all freshmen aged 14–15

A 15-year-old male student used an AI 'nudify' app to transform innocent Instagram photos of classmate Elliston Berry and at least eight other freshman girls into realistic-looking nude images. The deepfakes were distributed via an anonymous Snapchat account and circulated rapidly throughout the school. Berry discovered the images spreading among classmates the morning after homecoming.

Outcome: The school identified the perpetrator who received in-school suspension, with no expulsion or criminal charges. Snapchat failed to remove the images for eight months until Sen. Ted Cruz intervened. The incident directly led to the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act and Texas SB 441.

April 13, 2023

1 female teacher

A student digitally altered a teacher's face from social media onto revealing images and created a social media account using them to request money for more sexual images, attempting to monetize the deepfake content.

Outcome: Student disciplined. KISD consulted law enforcement on potential online impersonation charges (third-degree felony).

April 2023

1 female teacher

Students created a deepfake pornographic video using a female teacher's face superimposed onto explicit content, then airdropped it to staff and students. The teacher identified the original video that had been altered with her face.

Outcome: Aldine ISD police investigated but could not determine the creator's identity. Case closed. Teacher planned to press charges.