Luis Ramirez Avila, Receipt of Child Pornography, North Carolina 2022

A Charlotte man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in a child pornography ring.

Luis Ramirez Avila, 23, was found guilty of three counts of receipt of child pornography and was sentenced to 11 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release. He will also have to register as a sex offender and pay $15,300 in assessments.

According to court documents, Avila used messaging applications like Snapchat and other online platforms to view, share, and receive child pornography. He also admitted to using the platforms to communicate with minors and convince them to make sexually explicit videos.

The FBI began investigating Avila in 2019 and worked with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to gather evidence. Avila pleaded guilty to the charges on November 29, 2022, and is currently in federal custody.

U.S. Attorney Dena J. King praised the FBI and CMPD for their work on the case, saying, 'This case is a reminder of the dangers of child pornography and the importance of holding those who engage in this behavior accountable.'

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about the program, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/charlotte-man-sentenced-11-years-prison-receipt-child-pornography