San Francisco Resident Sentenced To Seventeen Years In Prison For Conspiring To Produce Child Pornography, Extortion, And Related Crimes

SAN FRANCISCO – Krishna Viramontes was sentenced today to 204 months in prison for conspiring to produce and possessing child pornography, as well as extortion, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward M. Chen, U.S. District Judge.

Viramontes, 37, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty to the charges on February 28, 2018.  In pleading guilty, Viramontes admitted that on June 24, 2016, July 25, 2016, and August 30, 2016, he used a minor to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct.  He further admitted that between June 24, 2016, and September 29, 2016, he conspired with another person to produce sexually explicit depictions of a minor.  Viramontes further admitted that he possessed child pornography and transmitted threats in interstate commerce intended to extort another person. Specifically, Viramontes threatened to distribute sexually explicit videos of the minor in the hope that the threats would force the minor into a relationship with the defendant.  On July 26, 2016, officers from the San Francisco Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received a tip that an account holder at a file hosting service had uploaded digital video files of suspected child pornography to his account.  An investigation resulted in a search of Viramontes’ San Francisco residence and the discovery of numerous electronic devices containing images and videos of child pornography, including images and videos created by Viramontes of a minor.  

A federal grand jury indicted Viramontes on December 13, 2016, charging him with three counts of producing child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), one count of conspiring to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a) and (e), one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B), and one count of extortion through interstate communications, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(d).  Viramontes pleaded guilty to all charges.  

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chen sentenced the defendant to a ten-year period of supervised release and ordered Viramontes to register with the state sex offender registration agency as required by state law.

Assistant United States Attorney Karen Kreuzkamp is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tong Zhang, Lance Libatique, and Maria Sunga.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and ICAC.