United States District Court Judge Gina Méndez-Miró sentenced Carlos Manuel Collazo-Pérez to 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for transportation of child pornography on July 21 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Collazo-Pérez, a 75-year-old resident of Toa Baja, was indicted on September 18, 2025, arrested the following day, and pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Indictment—transportation of child pornography—on April 21. According to court documents, from March 8, 2021, through August 6, 2025, Collazo-Pérez used internet-enabled electronic devices manufactured outside Puerto Rico to knowingly transport images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. An extraction conducted on his work laptop on August 14, 2025, revealed over 25,500 photos and videos involving minors. Most material was downloaded using a browser designed for private web browsing and IP address anonymization.
“The exploitation of children is a serious crime that inflicts lasting harm on the most vulnerable members of our community. Each image collected and traded represents a child who was victimized, and the staggering volume of material recovered in this case reflects a level of suffering that is difficult to comprehend,” said Héctor Ramírez Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to protect children and to bring those who prey upon them to justice. We will continue to pursue these offenders aggressively and ensure they are held fully accountable for the damage they cause.”
“A 188-month prison sentence reflects the gravity of this case and the devastating impact of these crimes. The evidence showed that Carlos Manuel Collazo-Pérez was not just a child predator but an active collector—amassing more than 25,000 images of child sexual abuse material. This staggering volume underscores the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing threat posed by individuals who exploit the most vulnerable among us. HSI remains resolute in our mission to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who commit these heinous acts. Today’s sentence is a victory for the victims and a warning to anyone who would consider engaging in such reprehensible behavior,” said Yariel Ramos, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations San Juan.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora prosecuted this case with investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations as part of the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This prosecution forms part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched nationwide in May 2006—to combat online child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal resources aimed at locating offenders as well as identifying victims.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico enforces federal laws across public safety issues including civil rights violations; supports reporting mechanisms; addresses crimes such as public corruption; serves all areas within its jurisdiction; pursues criminal prosecutions; engages with drug trafficking cases; provides fraud prevention resources; offers compliance training programs; promotes financial literacy efforts, according to the official website.