West Haven Man Charged with Child Exploitation Crimes

A 29-year-old West Haven man has been charged with child exploitation offenses, including sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography.

According to a federal complaint, CARLOS INESTI, 29, of West Haven, was arrested today on charges related to the production and distribution of child pornography. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Inesti is accused of engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a toddler-aged girl.

The FBI arrested Inesti after an individual in Utah was apprehended for possession of child pornography. Analysis of a cell phone seized during the investigation revealed videos involving an adult male, subsequently determined to be Inesti, engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a toddler-aged girl. The investigation revealed that Inesti had recorded the videos and shared them through the Telegram application.

Inesti appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and was released on a $100,000 bond into home detention with location monitoring. He is prohibited from accessing the internet and having any contact with minors.

The complaint charges Inesti with sexual exploitation of children, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s New Haven and Salt Lake City Field Offices, with the assistance of the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.