24yo Connecticut Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Child Sex Abuse

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — In a shocking case of child sex abuse, Kristian Ignacio Feliz, a 24-year-old man from Connecticut, was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child. Feliz was extradited from Spain in November 2023 to face federal charges.

Feliz was indicted in March 2023 for his heinous crimes, which involved pressuring a 12-year-old girl in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to create and send him pornographic videos. The abuse continued when Feliz traveled to Kalamazoo in January 2023 and recorded videos of himself abusing the girl in her home over a three-day period.

U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering emphasized the ‘manipulative’ and violent nature of Feliz’s crimes, stating that they will have a lasting impact on the victim ‘for the rest of her life.’

“Every child deserves to grow up safe, healthy, and free from abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “In this case, a sexual predator living abroad targeted a child in Kalamazoo, traveled here to abuse her, and then left the country. Working closely with state, federal, and international partners, we made sure Feliz was hauled back to Michigan to face justice in our courts.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked closely with the FBI, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and the Government of Spain to extradite Feliz and bring him to justice. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

“Today’s sentencing is a shining example of the brilliant interagency and international coordination between the FBI’s Western Michigan Violent Crime Task Force, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Government of Spain,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “No matter how far away those who commit these crimes may be, we will use all of our available resources to extradite you to the U.S. to face justice.”

Kristian Ignacio Feliz’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online child exploitation and the importance of international cooperation in bringing perpetrators to justice. As U.S. Attorney Totten emphasized, “Let today’s sentence serve as a warning that my office takes the protection of children extremely seriously.”