A Rhode Island resident has admitted guilt to federal charges of cyberstalking and distributing child pornography. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced that Melvin Vidal Herrera Perez, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking and four counts of distribution of child pornography.
Perez confessed in court to befriending a minor, persuading her to create sexually explicit images, and later using those images for threats and harassment after she turned eighteen. He employed various methods to inflict emotional distress on the victim, such as creating websites to display her images and sharing them through texts, emails, and messages with people in her personal network.
Detained since December 2024 following his arrest, Perez is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2025. A federal district judge will determine his sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
