Broward County Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography

A Broward county man pled guilty today to production and possession of child pornography.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Timothy R. Langan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Rick Maglione, Chief, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, made the announcement.

Juan Sebastian Chavez, 26, of Ft. Lauderdale, pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B), and one count of production of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a) and 2251(e).

Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2018 before United States District Judge Kenneth Marra. Chavez is facing a possible minimum statutory sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum statutory sentence of 30 years’.

According to court documents, beginning in April 2014 through September 2014, Chavez persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor female child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct using the camera on his cellular telephone. These sexually explicit images of a minor child were uncovered by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant and search of Chavez’s cellular telephone.  Law enforcement also searched other computers where Chavez possessed more images and videos of child pornography.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the ICE-HSI, FBI and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jodi L. Anton and Francis Viamontes.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.