Canóvanas Man Indicted for Production of Child Pornography and Exploitation of a Minor

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, announced that Christopher Joel Rabell-Pineiro, a 25-year-old man from Canóvanas was indicted on counts of production of child pornography and child exploitation.

Pursuant to the allegations in the indictment, Rabell-Pineiro used his cell phone and internet instant messaging services from November 2021 through March 2022 to use and coerce a 12-year-old female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that sexual conduct and transmitting the images in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b) and 2251(a) and (e).

The charges of coercion and enticement under Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b), carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life. The sentences on a conviction for Production of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a), vary from 15 years to life depending on the enhancements set out in Section 2251(e).

On May 31, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Rabell-Pineiro with counts of production of child pornography and child exploitation and he was arrested on June 6, 2023. These charges resulted from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan along with the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF) during which materials used for the production and distribution of child pornography were seized from the defendant.

HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos explained that: “the diligent and extensive investigative work by our special agents led to the identification and prosecution of this defendant who will face the consequences for his actions. He will now have to answer for the crimes for which he is charged.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains steadfastly committed to prosecuting those who violate federal laws regarding child endangerment,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice, along with our federal, state and local partners, are committed to protecting children from those who would seek to exploit them.”

HSI and the PRCACTF conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Emelina Agrait, from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting this case.

For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from online sexual abuse, visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians, and to denounce suspicious activities call 787-729-6969.

Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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