SAN JUAN, P.R. - Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, announced today that United States District Judge Jay A. García-Gregory sentenced 21-year-old Carlos Rafael Ocasio-Febres, to serve a term of imprisonment of five years followed by 15 years of supervised release. On June 16, 2016, Ocasio-Febres pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
In September 2015, the defendant knowingly possessed child pornography material depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. After executing a search warrant, and seizing his electronic devices, HSI agents discovered over 400 videos and, at least 72 images, of child pornography. The defendant had downloaded and shared child pornography images and videos using his laptop and cellphones.
“The public has to understand that possession of child pornography is a very serious offense that victimizes and re-victimizes children every time and image is viewed, downloaded or shared," said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “The US Attorney’s Office is fully committed to identifying and prosecuting anyone who searches for, downloads or possesses such contraband images or videos."
Project Safe Childhood is an initiative of the Department of Justice aimed at preventing the abuse and exploitation of children by the use of digital cameras, computers and other digital and electronic media.
The criminal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina Caraballo-Colón.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
