Serial Child Molester Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison

NORFOLK, Va. – Eduardo Bueno, 42, of Portsmouth, was sentenced today to 480 months in prison for distribution of child pornography.  Bueno was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release. 

“This man is a menace,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He has multiple convictions for sexually abusing children; several drug convictions, and on numerous occasions has failed to register as a sex offender.  Today’s sentence not only puts this criminal behind bars for the next 40 years, but sends a clear message to other child molesters that they will pay a heavy price for their crimes.” 

“Child pornography, when it is released onto the Internet, lives on forever,” said Michael Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk. “It haunts the children depicted in it, who live daily with the knowledge that countless strangers use an image of their worst experiences for their own gratification. Let today’s sentence serve as notice to other child predators. We will find you, investigate you, and ensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Bueno pleaded guilty on February 12.  According to court documents, Bueno has two prior convictions for sexual abuse of children in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including that of a 6 year-old girl.  In the immediate case, in 2015, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip that Bueno was trading child pornography via his e-mail account.  Law enforcement officers performed a search of the account which revealed that Bueno had been trading these videos and images via e-mail as well through other technologies for a long period of time.  Additionally, Bueno stated during an interview with law enforcement officers that he finds minor girls attractive, struggles not to look at them, and that he tried to avoid being alone with a minor relative. The public filings in this case also include statements by a minor relative who says she was sexually abused by Bueno. 

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk; and Tonya D. Chapman, Chief of Police, Portsmouth Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-8.