GREENBELT, MD – A 48-year-old man from Clinton, Maryland, received a federal prison sentence of more than 27 years for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material involving a minor victim abroad.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis imposed the term on Juan Carlos Puente on February 9, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The sentence includes 10 years of supervised release afterward. As required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Puente must register as a sex offender in any location where he lives, works, or attends school.
The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland, joined by Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office.
Court documents outline that from approximately October 1, 2021, to April 22, 2022, Puente used Facebook messages to entice a minor victim in the Dominican Republic into unlawful sexual activity and the production of child pornography. He persuaded the victim to perform sexual acts on herself, record videos of the explicit conduct, and send them to him in return for money. Records show Puente provided money transfer ID numbers and confirmed multiple payments to the victim.
The investigation advanced on January 9, 2024, when FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Puente’s Clinton residence. Authorities seized electronic devices containing visual depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct. Forensic examination revealed this evidence, including a video of two minors engaged in sex acts, with one child appearing approximately six years old.
Puente pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort since May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative coordinates federal, state, and local agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims. Additional details on the program appear at justice.gov/psc, with internet safety resources under the “Resources” tab.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the collaborative work of the FBI Baltimore Field Office, FBI Santo Domingo, and Dominican National Police in building the case. She extended thanks to prosecutors Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
Clinton, located in Prince George’s County near Southern Maryland jurisdictions like Charles and St. Mary’s counties, sees occasional high-profile federal cases tied to broader regional efforts against online child exploitation. This case demonstrates international cooperation in combating such crimes, involving cross-border evidence and victim identification.