Edixon Briceno Montilla was charged on July 17 at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn with the sexual exploitation of a minor. Montilla, who was arrested the same day, made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho and was ordered detained pending trial.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, announced the arrest. Nocella said, “As alleged, Montilla preyed on minors who he had access to, abused them for his own sexual gratification, and filmed their victimization. Prosecuting those who victimize children is a priority for the Department of Justice, this Office, and our law enforcement partners.”
Gizas said, “Edixon Briceno Montilla’s alleged conduct represents a level of depravity that is difficult to put into words. As charged, he targeted innocent children entrusted to his proximity, sexually abused them for his own gratification, recorded that abuse, and did so while brazenly remaining in this country unlawfully — demonstrating a callous disregard for his young victims and the safety of our entire community. HSI New York is unwavering in our commitment to protecting vulnerable members of our communities from those who would exploit them, and we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who targets children, wherever they may try to hide.”
According to court filings and statements made during proceedings, law enforcement identified Montilla as the adult male seen sexually abusing a minor victim in a video depicting child sexual abuse circulated on the dark web. A judicially authorized search warrant executed at Montilla’s residence in Brooklyn led authorities to recover his cellular phone containing additional videos allegedly depicting further sexual abuse by him against another minor.
The charge outlined in the complaint remains an allegation; Montilla is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted on these charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment up to 30 years.
This prosecution forms part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation—and also falls under efforts by the Homeland Security Task Force established by Executive Order 14159.