Buster Hernandez, 29, of Bakersfield, California, was sentenced to 75 years in federal prison for his role in a child predator and cyberterrorist scheme. Hernandez, also known as "BrianKil," was found guilty of multiple crimes, including the production of child pornography, the coercion and enticement of minors, and the threatened use of explosive devices.
The offense conduct included the actual or attempted sextortion of at least 375 victims, including those from two foreign countries. Hernandez also threatened to kill, rape, and kidnap hundreds, and threatened to use explosive devices against Plainfield and Danville High Schools, The Shops at Perry Crossing, and a local Walmart.
"Today we mark, with quiet satisfaction, that here evil has been met with justice," said Acting U.S. Attorney John Childress. "Conduct like this falls so far outside even the most basic understanding of human decency and compassion that our natural inclination might be to look away from this horrible spectacle."
According to court documents, Hernandez used Facebook under different aliases to communicate with a minor female victim, extorting sexually explicit pictures from her. When the victim’s mother intervened, Hernandez threatened to kill the victim, her mother, and her younger sister, and boyfriend, and posted on Facebook that he intended to bomb Plainfield and Danville High Schools.
Hernandez was initially charged in August 2017 with sexually exploiting a minor, threatening to use an explosive device, and threatening to kill, kidnap, or injure another person. Those charges eventually extended to include 41 separate allegations, including the production of child pornography, the coercion and enticement of minors, the receipt and distribution of child pornography, and witness tampering.
Hernandez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt on [date]. He will serve 75 years in federal prison for his crimes.
The case represents the efforts of an extremely talented group of federal prosecutors and law enforcement from across the county, who worked tirelessly to bring Hernandez to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Child Predator|Cybercrime|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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