Honk News (Corpus Christi, TX) – A Corpus Christi police officer has been arrested by agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on allegations of engaging in sexual offenses with a 15-year-old girl residing in Tulsa.
Authorities informed local law enforcement in Corpus Christi about the arrest of Officer Daniel Verduzco, 31, which took place on Sunday in Nueces County. Authorities in Oklahoma uncovered text and video messages on Snapchat suggesting that Verduzco had pressured the girl into a sexual encounter.
On January 8, officers from the Tulsa Police Department arrived at the scene after a worried parent reached out, expressing her belief that her daughter was in a relationship with a police officer from Corpus Christi. This concern stemmed from messages discovered in the girl’s Snapchat account, exchanged with another user, as detailed in the DHS investigation.
A mother revealed that her daughter is currently hospitalized following a suicide attempt involving a significant overdose of Tylenol.
During her hospital stay, the mother discovered her daughter’s Snapchat account and came across photo messages exchanged with a user named “Danny.” These images depicted a police cruiser equipped with a computer mount and laptop, which displayed sensitive details regarding police calls and notes related to those calls.
She informed the authorities that she resided in Corpus Christi with her children in 2023 and relocated to Oklahoma in the spring of 2024, mentioning that during her time in Corpus Christi, her daughter formed a friendship with a man named “Danny.”
The mother of the teenager expressed that she thought “Danny” was the same age as her daughter at that moment.
Nonetheless, her daughters verified that “Danny” held the position of a police officer, she stated.
The case notes remain unclear on whether Verduzco was aware that the individual he had been conversing with on Snapchat was a minor.
Following the family’s relocation to Oklahoma, the girl expressed her desire to return to Corpus Christi, citing her longing for her boyfriend, according to her mother.
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Tulsa police carried out a forensic examination of the girl’s cellphone on January 10, following the acquisition of consent to search the devices. It was discovered that the girl and the user had communicated through over 3,700 messages.
Furthermore, the account associated with the Snapchat user seemed to be linked to a law enforcement officer, as indicated by the presence of police car emojis adjacent to his username.
A series of images accompanied the profile, showcasing a police vehicle from Corpus Christi and an adult male dressed in a police uniform featuring the nameplate “D. Verduzco.”
The investigation revealed that authorities suspected the discovery of images of the girl in revealing clothing and videos depicting her in provocative stances.
The Department of Homeland Security reached out to the Homeland Security Investigations team in Oklahoma and special agents from HSI Corpus Christi to track down the suspect.
Investigators examined further Snapchat communications exchanged from May 26, 2024, to January 7, 2025, uncovering that the officer engaged in sexual activity with the 15-year-old girl.
On January 18, a criminal complaint was filed against Verduzco by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
An officer is now confronted with serious allegations of coercion and enticement. At a preliminary detention hearing on Wednesday, the judge established a bond of $50,000.