The co-owner of a Houston gun store has been arrested after allegedly using AI to create fake pornographic content of an influencer, according to police.
Jorge Abrego, the co-owner of HTX Tactical, located in northwest Houston, is accused of using AI to alter pictures of a social media influencer to create fake pornographic content. These doctored photos are known as “deepfakes.”
According to court documents, the victim — identified as A.G. — is a social media influencer. She told Harris County Peace Officer Gary Elofson that she feared for her life and that the fake pornographic images of her circulating on TikTok caused anxiety, humiliation, stress and damaged her personal reputation. A.G. also stated that the situation has caused her financial loss.
In one of the pictures, A.G. appeared to be nude with heart emojis covering her breasts and pubic area. Other videos created show the victim engaged in sexual acts.
According to court documents, Abrego, 37, admitted to creating multiple fake social media accounts impersonating the victim. He also admitted to creating fake nude images using AI or Photoshop. The same number used to create the fake account was traced back to Abrego.
As part of his bond conditions, Abrego is prohibited from owning or using a firearm, is barred from possessing any form of pornography and is ordered not to access social media sites. Abrego is currently out under a $10,000 bond.
Following Abrego’s arrest, HTX Tactical released a statement and said Abrego’s alleged actions do not represent the company.
“HTX Tactical is aware that one of its co-owners, Jorge Abrego, was arrested earlier today by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, accused of online impersonation and unlawful production of explicit computer-generated imagery,” the company said. “We want to emphasize that these are allegations and Mr. Abrego is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
“While this situation does not reflect the company’s values or its day-to-day operations, we take these allegations very seriously. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement as they continue their investigation. HTX Tactical is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and compliance, and we are carefully reviewing internal processes to ensure that our business remains focused on serving the needs of our customers and community. “We thank our loyal customers, employees, and partners for their continued support during this time. HTX Tactical remains committed to responsible business operations and full state and federal compliance.”
Abrego’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
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