ALBUQUERQUE – In a chilling revelation from the federal courts, Adrian Puentes, 25, of Albuquerque, has pleaded guilty to exploiting minors through social media. According to court documents, between June 2021 and March 2023, Puentes used Instagram and Snapchat to coerce and entice two minors under the age of 18 into illegal sexual activity.
Puentes is accused of threatening one victim, demanding sexually explicit photographs and warning she would face public exposure if she did not comply. The man took his manipulation a step further with the second victim, arranging in-person meetings for sexual encounters by sending money for transportation. He was fully aware that both victims were minors when he committed these crimes.
Puentes now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment at sentencing. Beyond serving time, upon release, he will be subject to supervised release for not less than five years and up to life. Additionally, Puentes must register as a sex offender.
The U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges against Puentes today. The investigation into this case was conducted by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting this case under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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