Texas Trooper Accused of Soliciting Minor on Snapchat

Undercover FBI investigation leads to charges against 16-year veteran officer

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:50pm

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A Texas state trooper based in Laredo has been charged with enticement and solicitation of a minor after an undercover FBI operation revealed he allegedly engaged in sexual conversations with an agent posing as a 12-year-old girl on Snapchat. Christian Estrada, a 39-year-old trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, is accused of expressing sexual interest in the fictitious minor and asking for nude photos during online chats.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of law enforcement officers abusing their positions of authority and public trust. It also underscores the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between local and federal agencies to identify and prosecute those who seek to exploit minors online.

The details

According to court records, the FBI conducted an undercover investigation from April 2025 to December 2025, during which an agent engaged in online conversations with a user named 'dopehound' on Reddit, Snapchat and Telegram. The 'dopehound' user is believed to be Estrada, who allegedly told the undercover agent that he previously had sex with a 13-year-old girl. 'Dopehound' then expressed sexual interest in the agent's fictitious 12-year-old daughter and asked for nude photos. On November 28, 2025, 'dopehound' provided Snapchat information to communicate directly with the undercover 12-year-old account, where he requested 'sexy pics.' A search of Estrada's home and phone revealed numerous chats with users claiming to be 14 and 15 years old.

  • The FBI investigation ran from April 2025 to December 2025.
  • On November 28, 2025, 'dopehound' provided Snapchat information to communicate with the undercover 12-year-old account.
  • On December 16, 2025, the FBI received a subpoena return from Reddit that helped identify 'dopehound' as Estrada.
  • On January 8, 2026, a search warrant was executed at Estrada's home, where his phone was seized.
  • On February 9, 2026, Estrada waived his arraignment and pleaded not guilty.

The players

Christian Estrada

A 39-year-old Texas state trooper based in Laredo who has been charged with enticement and solicitation of a minor after an undercover FBI investigation.

Texas Department of Public Safety

The state law enforcement agency that employed Estrada, who has since been suspended pending an internal investigation.

FBI

The federal law enforcement agency that conducted the undercover investigation that led to Estrada's arrest.

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What they’re saying

“On Jan. 8, 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) immediately suspended Trooper Christian Estrada after he was taken into custody by law enforcement in Webb Co. He remains suspended at this time. DPS' Office of Inspector General (OIG) has also launched a separate administrative investigation into Estrada.”

— DPS Spokesperson (ValleyCentral)

What’s next

Estrada is scheduled to appear in court for a final pre-trial conference on April 7, 2026.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical need for law enforcement agencies to maintain the highest ethical standards and public trust, as well as the importance of ongoing collaboration between local and federal authorities to identify and prosecute those who seek to exploit minors online.