California Man Charged With Child Exploitation, Traveling To Ohio To Have Sex With A Minor

Edwin Franco Rolffo-Zavala, 24, of Novato, California, was charged with sexual exploitation of a child,  transporting visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges that from on or about May 13, 2013, through on or about January 13, 2014, Rolffo-Zavala, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor, that is, a 13 year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction of such conduct, and knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transmitted, using any means or facility of interstate and foreign commerce, and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. 

The indictment also charges that from on or about January 1, 2011, through on or about January 13, 2014, Rolffo-Zavala knowingly transported, using any means of interstate and foreign commerce and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  

The indictment also charges that on or about January 16, 2014, Rolffo-Zavala knowingly traveled in interstate commerce, from the State of California to the State of Ohio, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 14-year-old girl.

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.  The case was investigated by the Akron Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Medina City Police Department.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.