Tag Archive for: minor

Eastern District of California | Carmichael Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Child Pornography Offenses

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Sam Moss Kerfoot, 27, of Carmichael, charging him with sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in April and May 2022, Kerfoot sexually abused a minor and produced visual depictions of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Kerfoot is alleged to have distributed child pornography in April 2022 and possessed child pornography in June 2023.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force Internet Crimes Against Children unit including the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Sauvageau and Alstyn Bennett are prosecuting the case.

If convicted of the charges as alleged, Kerfoot faces a minimum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison, a maximum of 50 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for sexual exploitation of a minor; a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for distribution of child pornography; and a minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for possession of child pornography. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually…

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Edinburg man sentenced for “catching a case” of sex tourism with minor | USAO-SDTX

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McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old Edinburg man has been ordered to federal prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Carlos Daniel Uribe-Garza pleaded guilty June 7, 2021, admitting to the crime and that it had resulted in a pregnancy.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered him to serve a 121-month sentence. At the hearing, the court heard about Uribe-Garza’s repeated phone calls with the victim. During those conversations, he attempted to influence her not to cooperate with law enforcement and instructed her to send letters to the judge retracting her previous statements. Evidence was also presented that indicated Uribe-Garza was emotionally manipulative towards the victim and had associates confront her and her family at their residence. Judge Crane considered comments from the victim’s mother indicating how Uribe-Garza’s conduct was obsessive, manipulative and toxic. After considering all the evidence, the court determined Uribe-Garza engaged in the obstruction of justice.

Judge Crane also heard that Uribe-Garza had previously engaged in another illicit sexual relationship with a 16-year-old minor in 2019, which also resulted in a pregnancy. Uribe-Garza told that girl not to tell anyone of their relationship because he could “catch a case.” The court deemed him a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors and imposed a sentencing enhancement.

In imposing the prison term, the court noted Uribe-Garza is predatory toward minors. Following his imprisonment, Uribe-Garza will serve five years on supervised release, during which time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Uribe-Garza spoke at sentencing and told the court his only regret was attempting to bring the victim into the United States.

Uribe-Garza met the minor victim at her 15th birthday party in Reynosa, Mexico, and then began contacting her via social media. From December 2020 to February 2021, Uribe-Garza pursued a sexual relationship with the victim, traveling from Texas to Mexico on multiple occasions.

She…

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Massachusetts Man Admits to Attempting to Entice a Minor, Traveling to Engage in Illicit Sex, Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a Minor | USAO-RI

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Massachusetts man faces between 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence after pleading guilty on Wednesday to an indictment charging him with attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Cody J. Hansen, 38, of Orange, MA., admitted that he posted an online classified advertisement seeking to connect with “someone that likes to play when the girl is passed out.” In May 2018, he engaged in a series of online communications with a person who responded to his posting; Hansen believed this person to be the father of 12 and 8-year-old girls living in Rhode Island. The father provided Hansen with an email address he could use to contact the 12-year-old girl. In actuality,  Hansen was communicating with an undercover Rhode Island State Police (RISP) detective assigned to the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Hansen admitted to the court that he engaged in a series of email communications with someone whom he believed to be the 12-year-old girl, admitting that these email communications turned sexually graphic and included an obscene photo of his genitalia. Hansen then arranged with the RISP detective, still acting as the girl, to travel to Rhode Island on May 21, 2018, to engage in sex with the girl and her younger sister.

According to information presented to the court, on May 21, 2018, the RISP detective and Hansen spoke by telephone, during which time Hansen confirmed that he was traveling to Rhode Island the next day with the intention of having sex with his daughters. When he arrived at the agreed upon location, he parked his car next to the detective’s vehicle and got into the front passenger seat of the detective’s car.  In conversation with the detective, Hansen confirmed that he knew the ages of the girls that he came to meet and to have sex with. He was immediately arrested by members of the ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security…

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