Miguel Angel Sierra-Torreblanca, a Mexican national living unlawfully in the United States, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and an additional 24 months for illegal reentry after deportation. The sentencing took place in Aberdeen, Mississippi, before United States District Court Judge Sharion Aycock.
Court documents state that Sierra-Torreblanca, 40, was arrested after a multistate investigation involving sheriff departments from Charleston County, South Carolina and Lowndes County, Mississippi. He had been residing in Lowndes County at the time of his arrest. Authorities found two cell phones containing hundreds of images and videos depicting sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. After his arrest, Sierra-Torreblanca admitted to possessing these materials and participating in a transnational group that traded such content.
Sierra-Torreblanca also faced sentencing for returning illegally to the United States after being previously deported on three occasions following a prior conviction for illegal reentry. Upon release from prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender and serve seven years of supervised release. Judge Aycock ordered that he be surrendered to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. ICE has placed an immigration detainer on him to ensure his removal from the country after serving his federal prison term.
“This conviction and sentence makes it clear that there is no tolerance for anyone exploiting children in our community, especially when the defendant is someone who should never have been present in this country in the first place,” said Clay Joyner, U.S. Attorney. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi is committed to fully prosecuting those who are here unlawfully, especially if they harm innocent children and possess images of child sexual abuse.”
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins commented on the collaborative effort: “The exploitation of children is one of the most horrific crimes we encounter, and we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure those who prey on children are held accountable. This case highlights the importance of agencies working together across state lines to investigate and prosecute these offenders, and we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie added: “There is no higher priority than protecting our children. Anyone who preys on the most vulnerable members of our community will be found, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are committed to getting these predators off our streets and ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe for every child to grow, learn, and thrive. We are grateful for the interagency partnerships with Mississippi authorities who made this arrest.”
Detective James Jacko from Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said: “When someone targets a child, they’re not just breaking the law, they’re breaking the trust of an entire community. We always follow every lead, use every resource, and we don’t stop until the people responsible are held accountable. Our kids deserve nothing less.”
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner announced these developments.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Herzog Jr. and Paul Roberts prosecuted this case with investigative support from sheriff’s departments in Lowndes County (Mississippi), Charleston County (South Carolina), as well as Homeland Security officials.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006—to address child sexual exploitation by combining resources at federal, state, and local levels to locate offenders using online platforms as well as rescue victims nationwide.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
