Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Rafael Antonio Saldana, a 39-year-old resident of Miami-Dade County, has been sentenced to over 38 years in prison. This follows his conviction by a South Florida federal jury in October 2024 for multiple child exploitation offenses.
In 2023, Saldana was found to have solicited sexually explicit images from three minors aged 14, 16, and 17. He also attempted to meet them for sexual encounters. A plan was coordinated with the youngest minor to meet at a local McDonald's before proceeding to Saldana's residence. However, law enforcement officers intercepted him when he arrived near the restaurant. The investigation uncovered that Saldana possessed more than sixty images depicting child sexual exploitation.
The jury convicted Saldana on charges including three counts of attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity, attempted production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors, receipt of such depictions, and possession thereof.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office; and Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The case was investigated by HSI Miami and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey Pence Tomanelli and Arielle Klepach led the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project involves collaboration among federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about PSC can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
For updates or copies of this press release, visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida's website at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Anyone with information on child sexual exploitation is urged to contact (877) 4-HSI-TIP [(877) 447-4847].
Court documents related to this case are available on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or via http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20308.
