Vacaville Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Michael Rubino, 38, of Vacaville, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 17 years and six months in prison for sexually exploiting an underage girl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, Rubino convinced a 17-year-old girl to live with him at his parents’ Vacaville residence in late 2024. During this time, Rubino engaged in aggressive sexual conduct with his minor victim and created approximately 15 videos of himself assaulting her. At least one recording Rubino made depicted himself taking a hit from a methamphetamine pipe and then blowing the smoke into his victim’s genitalia.

Law enforcement officers recovered the minor victim after Rubino deposited her at a local hospital, where she underwent immediate surgery for infected drug injection sites on her body. Officers arrested Rubino after executing a search warrant for his room and seized evidence that on more than one occasion while she was under his control, Rubino provided the minor victim to his friends for sex in exchange for money and narcotics.

Rubino’s criminal history includes at least one prior conviction for domestic violence and assault. He is subject to four restraining orders entered for the protection of various women and girls in Solano County.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Vacaville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.