A Manchester man has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for child exploitation offenses related to the sexual abuse of a minor. According to an announcement from David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Hernan Ayala, 33, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford on October 30, 2025. In addition to imprisonment, Ayala will serve 40 years of supervised release.
Court records show that in March 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a complaint that Ayala had sexually abused a minor female over more than eight years and had recorded the abuse on his cellphone. Investigators searched Ayala’s residence and seized electronic devices, including an iPhone containing videos and images documenting the abuse.
Ayala was arrested on March 9, 2024, on related state charges and has remained detained since then. He pleaded guilty in federal court on July 8, 2025, to production and possession of child pornography.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Manchester Police Department, the Glastonbury Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy V. Gifford prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stated: "I thank the State’s Attorney’s Offices for the Judicial Districts of Hartford and Tolland for their cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case."
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice focused on protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
To report suspected child exploitation cases, visit www.cybertipline.com.
