Juan Carlos Puente, Child Exploitation, Maryland 2024

Clinton Man Charged with Child Exploitation

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Juan Carlos Puente, 46, of Clinton, Maryland, on multiple child exploitation offenses, including production of child pornography and coercion of a minor.

According to the seven-count indictment, between approximately October 1, 2021, and April 22, 2022, Puente enticed a minor victim to engage in unlawful sexual activity and produce child pornography. Additionally, Puente traveled outside of the United States to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the minor victim.

On January 9, 2024, Puente also possessed sexually explicit images involving a prepubescent minor and a minor victim who was under 12 years of age.

Puente was charged with two counts of production of child pornography, one count of attempted production of child pornography, one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography.

If convicted, Puente faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and up to 90 years in federal prison for the production and attempted production of child pornography counts. Additional penalties could include a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison and up to life in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a child; a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place; and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and/or until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Puente’s case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban, Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

If you suspect that you have information that could aid law enforcement’s investigation, you are encouraged to call the FBI Baltimore Field Office at (410) 265-8080.

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