FARGO — United States Attorney Nicholas Chase announced Wednesday, March 11, a federal grand jury had returned indictments against two Mexican nationals residing in Stanley for multiple child exploitation offenses.

According to information provided by Chase, Lidio Santiz Julian, 26, and Hugo Lopez Diaz, 21, are accused of attempted production, receipt, transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The two men were arrested in February after a months-long child exploitation investigation conducted jointly by federal investigators with the Department of Homeland Security and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A search warrant was executed on Feb. 6 on a residence in Stanley, resulting in the arrest of Santiz Julian and the seizure of multiple electronic devices which revealed Lopez Diaz also was connected with the illegal illicit material. Lopez Diaz was arrested by federal agents on Feb. 10.

Santiz Julian is charged with receipt and possession of child pornography while Lopez Diaz is charged with attempted production, transportation and possession of child pornography.