Man Found Guilty of Child Exploitation

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On February 25, 2026, after a three-day jury trial, Luis Ángel Domenech‑Acabá was found guilty of two counts of child exploitation: production and possession of child pornography. United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón presided over the trial.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Yariel Ramos, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, announced that, according to the evidence presented at trial and reviewed by the jury, Domenech‑Acabá sexually exploited a female minor from in or about September 2017 to in or about September 2018. The evidence showed that he used a cellular phone and internet messaging services to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the minor to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.

“Protecting children from sexual exploitation is one of our highest priorities,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “This verdict sends a clear message that those who exploit minors and trade in child sexual abuse material will be held fully accountable and face significant consequences for their crimes.”

“This verdict brings hope for all the victims that suffered unbelievable pain caused by this individual who was a trusted adult close to the family. Now that our law enforcement efforts brought him to justice, the victims can now focus on their healing process. HSI will continue collaborating with our local partners to identify and process those who prey on our children,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos.

During trial, the government presented testimony and digital evidence establishing that, using cellphones and other devices, Domenech‑Acabá produced images and videos depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also possessed images and videos of the minor and of other minors in sexually explicit conduct, which he kept in a secured folder on his cellphone.

For production of child pornography, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison; for possession of child pornography, he faces up to 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for May 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The defendant was ordered detained in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle Álvarez‑Lora and Emelina Agrait Barreto of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking, and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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