Miguel Angel Sierra-Torreblanca, a 40-year-old Mexican national living unlawfully in the United States, has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and an additional 24 months for illegal reentry after previous deportations. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Court Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen, Mississippi.
Authorities arrested Sierra-Torreblanca following a multistate investigation involving the Sheriff’s Departments of Charleston County, South Carolina, and Lowndes County, Mississippi. He was found with two cell phones containing hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. After his arrest, Sierra-Torreblanca admitted to possessing these materials and being part of a group that traded such content.
Sierra-Torreblanca had previously been convicted in federal court for illegal reentry and had been deported from the United States three times before this case. In addition to his prison sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender and serve seven years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, he will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings. ICE officials have placed an immigration detainer on him to ensure his removal from the country after serving his time.
“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,” said Clay Joyner, U.S. Attorney. “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 on law enforcement cooperation: “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 added: “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 also stated: “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.”
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Herzog Jr. and Paul Roberts with investigative support from local sheriff departments as well as Homeland Security.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006—to combat child sexual exploitation by coordinating efforts among federal prosecutors’ offices along with state agencies nationwide.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
