Raul Ayala, Production of Child Pornography, North Carolina 2021

Crime Kingpin Raul Ayala, a 72-year-old Angier resident, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography in a case that shocked the community and sparked widespread outrage.

The crimes, which date back to the 1970s, were initially discovered when a prepubescent minor victim disclosed to his parents that Ayala had sexually molested him. When investigators interviewed Ayala, he admitted molesting that victim and also admitted exploiting other victims.

A search warrant was executed at Ayala’s residence, and multiple digital devices were seized. During the search, law enforcement located a hidden briefcase in Ayala’s attic that contained both adult pornography and child sexual abuse material. The briefcase contained tri-fold advertisements for child sexual abuse videos that included pictures of children engaged in sexual acts with adults.

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fuquay-Varina Police Department, uncovered a treasure trove of evidence, including numerous nude Polaroid pictures of minor victims dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. One of the boys depicted in the Polaroids was tracked down by HSI agents and disclosed that Ayala had sexually abused him when he was a minor, beginning when he was 8 years old.

Ayala pleaded guilty on April 26, 2021. In addition to his prison term, he was sentenced to a term of five years of post-incarceration supervised release. A restitution hearing may be scheduled in the future.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney G. Norman Acker III for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The case highlights the importance of continued efforts to identify and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet.

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