A California man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in enticing minors to engage in illegal sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
Tampa, Florida – Eddie Ademir Villalta Hernandez, 37, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday to 10 years in federal prison for enticing or coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Villalta Hernandez to forfeit an iPhone, which was used in the commission of the offense, and to register as a sex offender.
Villalta Hernandez pleaded guilty in October 2025.
According to court documents, between November 2022 and April 2024, Villalta Hernandez used a social media application to persuade, induce, and entice minors to send him images and videos of child exploitation material in exchange for monetary payments.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
- Eddie Ademir Villalta Hernandez, Child Exploitation, California 2023 · Arkansas
- Filomeno Hernandez, Sexual Harassment, California 2023 · Alabama
- Rigoberto Rios Gallardo, Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Florida 2024 · California
- Evan Andrew Bubbers, Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images, Florida 2021 · Texas
- Rene Pedrosa, Receiving Child Pornography, Florida 2024 · California
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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