Creator of RGV revenge porn site arrested, district attorney announces

SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The creator of a Rio Grande Valley revenge porn group was arrested on more than a dozen charges.

Jose Maria Cosino, 23, was arrested on 12 counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of unlawful distribution or promotion of intimate visual material, a news release from the Cameron County District Attorney's Office stated.

_{Jose Maria Cosino (Cameron County District Attorney's Office)}

According to the release, investigators with the DA's office, along with special agents with Homeland Security, discovered a private Telegram group chat that was "involved in the distribution of child pornography."

Investigators identified Cosino, who is from San Benito, as the creator and administrator of the group, which had more than 3,000 memberships, the release stated.

Authorities have been in contact with the underage victims, who confirmed they did not give consent to share the photos, or make them public.

On April 12, Cosino turned himself in to the Cameron County Jail, where he was arrested on the charges mentioned above.

In total, his bond was set at $300,000.

“This case highlights a danger of today’s society. Sharing intimate picture online may end badly. The initial circumstance in which intimate photos are shared may change in the future, however once you share you can’t un-share,” said Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz.

The case remains under investigation as authorities work to identify other victims throughout the Valley.