Scott Jacob Smith, Child Porn Crimes, Iowa 2023

Waterloo Man Gets 20 Years for Child Sex Crimes

A disturbing case of child sex abuse has come to an end with a 20-year prison sentence for Juan Rangel, a 36-year-old man from Waterloo, Iowa.

Rangel was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and distributing child pornography. The crimes took place between 2014 and 2016, during which Rangel traveled from the United States to Mexico and engaged in sex acts with a minor.

He also admitted to distributing visual depictions of child pornography using the Internet.

Rangel was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. In addition to the prison sentence, he was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $10,200 and serve a 7-year term of supervised release. He will also have to comply with all sex offender registration and public notification requirements.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

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

Rangel’s sentence brings to light the severity of child sex crimes and the importance of continued efforts to protect children from predators like Rangel. The public is reminded that these crimes will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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