Puerto Rican man sentenced to 19 years in prison for production of child porn

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A 32-year-old man who pleaded guilty to production of child pornography charges in April was sentenced Monday to 19 years in prison following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

In or about August 2010, Lisandro Ortiz-Ramos, of San Juan, induced a female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, including the lascivious exhibition of the genital areas, for the production of still images using a digital camera and computer which had been mailed, shipped, or transported in interstate foreign commerce.

According to court documents, on Aug. 31, 2010, law enforcement officials responded to a 911 call from the Vista Hermosa Housing Project in San Juan after receiving information that Ortiz-Ramos was being beaten by unknown individuals. ICE HSI was notified due to the allegation that a media card in possession of Ortiz-Ramos contained child pornography.

Upon arrival at the scene, ICE HSI agents seized a media card which was subsequently analyzed and revealed images of 6-year-old girl exposed in a sexually explicit manner.

"This sentence should send a message that HSI and the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force are paying close attention to the well-being of our children, and that we will continue using our resources to take child predators off the streets," said Roberto Escobar Vargas, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Puerto Rico. "Make no mistake, those who exploit our most vulnerable segment of our society – our children – will be brought to justice."

This case is also part of Operation Predator, an ICE-led initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or its online tip form. Both are staffed around-the-clock by investigators.