Miguel Angel Sierra-Torreblanca, a 40-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced in Aberdeen, Mississippi, to 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and an additional 24 months for illegal reentry into the United States after previous deportations. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Court Judge Sharion Aycock.
Court documents indicate that Sierra-Torreblanca was arrested after a multistate investigation involving the sheriff departments of Charleston County, South Carolina, and Lowndes County, Mississippi. Authorities discovered two cell phones in his possession containing hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. Sierra-Torreblanca admitted to possessing these materials and being part of a group that traded such images.
In addition to his sentence for child pornography charges, Sierra-Torreblanca received a sentence for illegally reentering the country. He had previously been convicted in federal court on similar grounds and had been deported from the United States three times prior.
Upon release from prison, Sierra-Torreblanca will be required to register as a sex offender and serve seven years of supervised release. Judge Aycock ordered that he be surrendered to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings after completing his sentence. ICE has placed an immigration detainer on him to facilitate his removal following imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner stated: “This conviction and sentence makes it clear that there is no tolerance for anyone exploiting children in our community, especially when the defendant is someone who should never have been present in this country in the first place. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi is committed to fully prosecuting those who are here unlawfully, especially if they harm innocent children and possess images of child sexual abuse.”
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins commented: “The exploitation of children is one of the most horrific crimes we encounter, and we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure those who prey on children are held accountable. This case highlights the importance of agencies working together across state lines to investigate and prosecute these offenders, and we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie said: "There is no higher priority than protecting our children. Anyone who preys on the most vulnerable members of our community will be found, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are committed to getting these predators off our streets and ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe for every child to grow, learn, and thrive. We are grateful for the interagency partnerships with Mississippi authorities who made this arrest."
Detective James Jacko from Charleston County Sheriff's Office added: "When someone targets a child, they’re not just breaking the law, they’re breaking the trust of an entire community. We always follow every lead, use every resource, and we don’t stop until the people responsible are held accountable. Our kids deserve nothing less."
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Herzog Jr. and Paul Roberts prosecuted this case with investigative support from local sheriff departments in both states as well as Homeland Security.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal prosecutors’ offices along with state and local agencies nationwide (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
