Elyria Man Charged With Transporting Child Pornography

ELYRIA, OH — An Elyria man was taken into custody after police discovered he had been communicated with a missing 14-year-old girl from California.

Jeremy Cruz, 39, was taken into custody on April 18 by FBI agents and police officers from Sheffield and Avon Lake. The Department of Justice said suspected child pornography was found on Cruz's cell phone.

The investigation into the missing girl began April 15. Santa Maria police, in California, asked the public for help finding the missing teenager. Investigators then determined the girl had been communicating with an adult man, later identified as Cruz, the Department of Justice said.

On April 18, at 3:30 a.m., law enforcement found Cruz staying at a family member's home in Sheffield Lake. The missing girl was also at the home.

Cruz was placed into custody, without incident, and taken to the Sheffield Lake Police Department. The 14-year-old girl was reunited with her family in California.

Cruz was held in local police custody until April 26, when he transferred into federal custody. He has been charged with interstate transport of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Santa Maria Police Department, FBI – Los Angeles Division, Sheffield Lake Police Department, Avon Lake Police Department, Elyria Police Department, Lorain Police Department and the Cleveland Division of the FBI.