Houston gun store owner Jorge Abrego, 37, is jailed for allegedly using AI to create explicit fake images of a local influencer.
HOUSTON — A Houston gun store owner is behind bars, accused of using artificial intelligence and social media to impersonate a local influencer and create explicit, fake images of her online.
Court documents show that 37-year-old Jorge Abrego was arrested this month after investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office linked multiple fake TikTok accounts to him. The victim, a social media content creator, told authorities she had discovered a profile impersonating her earlier this year, using a slightly altered version of her username.
The profile allegedly featured what appeared to be nude photos of the woman, with heart emojis covering her breasts and genital area.
Detectives issued subpoenas to TikTok and later to T-Mobile and Yahoo after retrieving the account’s registered phone number and email address. The results linked the accounts directly to Abrego. The IP address used to create the accounts was also traced back to Abrego’s gun store, HTX Tactical, located in north Houston.
Later, the victim reported that AI-generated pornographic videos depicting her had also surfaced online. In one video, a woman in lingerie is bent over a table. The victim told investigators she has never posted any nude images or videos of herself on the internet.
Abrego was interviewed by investigators on Aug. 15. According to court records, he admitted to creating multiple TikTok accounts to impersonate the victim and to generating the explicit images using artificial intelligence. He also acknowledged knowing the content was harming the woman financially.
A forensic search of the victim’s phone uncovered more than 50 explicit images and videos that investigators say appeared to be fake content made to look like her.
Court documents also state Abrego knew the victim personally and had previously told her he was in love with her.
Although not involved in this case, Montgomery County Constable Ken Washington, who investigated one of the state’s first criminal AI deepfake cases last year, noted that these types of crimes are becoming increasingly common.
“They’re deceiving the public — it’s not really that individual,” Washington said. “With all the outcry, we’re starting to see it more, even with celebrities and public figures.”
The victim is not speaking publicly at this time.
As of Monday, Abrego remained in the Harris County Jail. No bond has been set.
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