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Hernando Man Jailed 14 Years for Destroying Evidence and Child Porn
A 64-year-old Hernando man has been sent to prison for 14 years for destroying evidence and accessing with intent to view child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Basilio Jim Diaz was found guilty by a federal jury in January 2024 after a search of his home revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the exploitation of children. Diaz had been destroying evidence when FBI agents arrived at his home on March 9, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber ordered Diaz to forfeit electronic devices, register as a sex offender, and pay $38,000 in restitution. Diaz refused to exit his home when the FBI announced their presence, prompting the use of an armored vehicle to break through the front door.
SWAT agents entered the home and detained Diaz after nearly an hour. A search of the home also revealed two child-like sex dolls. The FBI used forensic tools to recover the evidence that Diaz had destroyed.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, and task force officers from the Tampa Police Department and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Ross D. Roberts.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
The sentence in this case is a stark reminder of the consequences of child exploitation and the importance of continued efforts to combat this heinous crime. The U.S. Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice and protect the victims of this abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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