GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – In a disturbing case of online exploitation, Eduardo G. Torres, 26, of Waukegan, Illinois, has been sentenced to 210 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, Torres met the victim online and initially communicated with her through Snapchat. He then traveled from Illinois to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he sexually assaulted the girl and filmed the assault. Torres subsequently transported the victim back across state lines to his residence in Illinois, where he created child pornography by filming the assault.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated, “As the sexual exploitation of children online continues to rise, my office is committed to protecting children and bringing sex offenders to justice. The devices that nearly every child and teenager now carry leave kids vulnerable to criminals down the street, across state lines, and around the world.”
Torres previously pled guilty to sexual exploitation of a child on December 18, 2023, for the child pornography he created. Federal law prohibits the production, distribution, receipt, or possession of any image containing child pornography.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, said, “Mr. Torres engaged in an egregiously inappropriate relationship with a minor, exploiting and sexually assaulting the young victim. Investigating those who prey on our children is a top priority for the FBI.”
Parents and caregivers are urged to take steps to protect their children and teenagers from online predators. The FBI provides the following advice:
Have open and ongoing conversations about safe and appropriate online behavior.
Educate yourself about the websites, software, games, and apps that your children use.
Check their social media and gaming profiles and posts. Have conversations about what is appropriate to say or share.
Explain to your kids that once images or comments are posted online, they can be shared with anyone and never truly disappear.
Make sure your kids use privacy settings to restrict access to their online profiles.
Tell your children to be extremely wary when communicating with anyone online who they do not know in real life.
Encourage kids to choose appropriate screen names and to create strong passwords.
Make it a rule with your kids that they can’t arrange to meet up with someone they met online without your knowledge and supervision.
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- Illinois Sex Offender Charged with Coercing 15-Year-Old · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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