HSI San Diego case results in 30-year sentence for predator who sexually exploited a child
SAN DIEGO — A San Diego man was sentenced in federal court Aug. 18 to 360 months in prison for sexually abusing a drugged eight-year-old girl while another person recorded the assault. This case was investigated by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Pedro Escamilla Del Rosario, 44, pleaded guilty on March 27 to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
“The sexual abuse and exploitation of children victims rob their emotional and psychological development aside from stealing their innocence,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “The defendant’s deviant and perverse behavior will not be tolerated by HSI. This kind of abuse strikes at the very foundation of our society and we all must come together to combat this unspeakable crime that plagues the public welfare; our children deserve better.”
According to the publicly filed documents in the case, in March 2022, HSI received reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a Google account user who had uploaded digital files of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
From March 2022 through June 2022, HSI agents received 41 separate reports regarding the Google account, involving approximately 6,700 digital files. Based on this information, HSI obtained a search warrant for the account, which belonged to Del Rosario, and discovered thousands of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Among the visual depictions in the account, HSI agents discovered two videos that were produced in March 2018 — one of which forms the basis of Del Rosario’s federal conviction.
Del Rosario was subsequently arrested and confessed to his involvement in the creation of the videos, including sexually molesting the minor victim when he knew she had been over-medicated. He also admitted to possessing the other visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
At the sentencing hearing, after the court heard statements from the victim and her foster parent, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Sherwood argued for a substantial custodial sentence because the crimes committed by Del Rosario had caused irreparable harm to the child and had been perpetrated and recorded purely for Del Rosario’s sexual gratification.
In imposing the 360-month sentence, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson explained that the “statutory maximum for the offense of conviction, is necessary and sufficient, but not greater than necessary” to accomplish the sentencing objectives, including the need to protect the community from future crimes by Del Rosario.
“This defendant’s heinous actions have caused irreparable harm to the victim,” said acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “The children in our community are often the most vulnerable members of our society. There are few crimes that are more vicious and outrageous than crimes involving their sexual exploitation.” Haden thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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