Torres Gets 45 Years for Exploiting Children Online

CHICAGO – Armando Torres, 35, of Chicago, will spend the next 45 years of his life behind bars after a federal judge slammed him with a lengthy prison sentence for a sickening pattern of sexually exploiting children he met online. Torres preyed on vulnerable young girls, some as young as ten, coercing them into creating and sending him explicit images and videos.

Between 2019 and 2020, Torres systematically used social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram to groom his victims. He didn’t just stumble upon them; he actively sought them out, crafting online personas designed to appeal to children. In a particularly disturbing tactic, Torres frequently pretended he was a child to gain their trust – a calculated deception that allowed him to manipulate them without raising immediate red flags.

The extent of Torres’ depravity came to light during the investigation. He didn’t simply ask for images; he provided detailed, step-by-step instructions, directing his victims on how to pose, what language to use, and precisely how to film and send the abusive content. This wasn’t spontaneous; it was a carefully orchestrated scheme to satisfy his twisted desires and build a collection of child sexual abuse material.

Torres pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of exploitation and child pornography. On August 11, 2025, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger delivered the 45-year sentence, a significant blow against online predators. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Walgamuth powerfully articulated the damage Torres inflicted during the sentencing memorandum. “Children are the most vulnerable members of our community,” she wrote. “Their innocence and trust in others make them defenseless to predators like Torres, who easily manipulated them online. Torres’s sexualization of the victims deprived them of their childhood and inflicted significant trauma…that will continue to impact them long after the experience is over.”

This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC brings together federal, state, and local resources to track down, arrest, and prosecute offenders, while also providing vital support to the young victims whose lives they’ve shattered. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual exploitation, resources are available. Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at https://www.missingkids.org/ or call 1-800-843-5678. The hotline is available 24/7.

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