Aguirre-Nunez Gets 18+ Years for Child Pornography

LAFAYETTE, La. – Pedro Aguirre-Nunez, 39, of Duson, Louisiana, will spend the next 224 months (18 years, 8 months) behind bars after being sentenced in U.S. District Court for the horrific crime of Production of Child Pornography. Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced the sentence, handed down by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., along with a five-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.

The case unraveled on March 29, 2019, when Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a disturbing report of indecent behavior involving a juvenile in Duson. The investigation quickly turned digital, revealing three deeply disturbing videos discovered on a cloud account linked to Aguirre-Nunez’s phone. These weren’t random images; they were recordings of the defendant molesting a minor girl. A search warrant executed on the cloud account confirmed the existence of the videos, captured on a smartphone and automatically synced to the account.

Forensic analysis revealed the videos were taken several months prior to their discovery, and the most sickening detail: the minor child was asleep during each recording. On October 17, 2019, Aguirre-Nunez confessed to creating the depraved visual depictions, admitting he used his smartphone to commit the acts. He subsequently pled guilty to Production of Child Pornography in federal court, facing the full weight of the law.

Adding another layer to the case, investigators determined that Aguirre-Nunez is a citizen and national of Mexico and was unlawfully present in the United States at the time of these offenses. While the focus remains on the horrific abuse of a child, his immigration status is a clear factor in the severity of the crime and the consequences he now faces. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office collaborated on the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo skillfully prosecuted the case, securing a lengthy sentence that reflects the gravity of Aguirre-Nunez’s actions. This case is a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against child sexual exploitation and abuse and is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators and rescue victims.

If you suspect child exploitation or abuse, report it. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) operate a toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423. Tips can also be submitted online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application: www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app. All reports are taken seriously and can be submitted anonymously. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.