Juan Carlos Puente, Child Sex Abuse, Maryland 2024

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child sexual abuse material in federal court.

Juan Carlos Puente, 47, of Clinton, Maryland, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Puente enticed a minor victim, who resided in the Dominican Republic, to engage in unlawful sexual activity and produce child sexual abuse material. Through Facebook messages, Puente enticed the minor victim to perform sexual acts on herself and to send videos of her engaging in the requested sexually explicit conduct in exchange for money.

The messages also show Puente sending money transfer ID numbers to the minor victim and saying he sent money to her on multiple occasions. On January 9, 2024, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Puente’s Clinton residence.

Law enforcement seized electronic devices and other evidence from his residence pursuant to the search warrant. Forensic review of the devices uncovered visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Puente is facing a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a statutory maximum of 50 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis scheduled sentencing for Monday, January 26, at 10 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Puente must register as a sex offender in places where he resides, is an employee, and is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department assisted in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.

Megan S. McKoy and Jessica L. Urban are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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