SAN JUAN, P.R. - After an eight-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Carmen C. Cerezo, a jury found Noel Turner-Ayala guilty of child pornography offenses, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Turner-Ayala is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years imprisonment and a statutory maximum of thirty (30) years, and a maximum possible fine of $250,000. His sentencing was scheduled for June 20, 2017.
The indictment charged that from in or about May 12, 2014 through June 6, 2014, Turner-Ayala, did employ, use, persuade, induce, entice or coerce a female minor, identified as Jane Doe, to engage in sexually explicit conduct, namely the lascivious exhibition of the genital areas and performing sexual acts, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct knowing that such visual depiction would be transported or transmitted using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce.
The evidence at trial proved that defendant Turner-Ayala had requested sexually explicit images of the then 15-year-old minor through Facebook Messenger. During trial the evidence showed that the defendant’s relationship with the minor victim was not just a “virtual relationship," but one wherein they also communicated via What’sApp, via telephone and, in person.
“We congratulate the agents who investigated this case, and our attorneys for its successful prosecution," said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The conviction of this predator showed the commitment of our law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute criminals who victimize our children."
The case was investigated by the ICE-HSI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
