Lakeland Man Sentenced To 80 Years In Prison For Producing And Transporting Child Pornography

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell today sentenced Benjamin Cuadrado (41, Lakeland) to 80 years in federal prison for the production and transportation of child pornography. Cuadrado pleaded guilty on January 9, 2015.

According to court documents, between July 26, 2012, and March 25, 2014, Cuadrado produced, transported, received, and possessed child pornography. He used his cellular phone to produce at least 70 videos of him sexually assaulting an infant and a toddler in his care. He transported the child pornography over the Internet using his email account and an Internet messaging program.

A forensic review of Cuadrado’s cellular phone revealed 250 videos and more than 4,000 images of child pornography, including files depicting pre-pubescent children and sadomasochistic conduct.

“Justice has truly been served in this case. Cuadrado’s heinous crimes were against children that were not able to defend themselves,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “Working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners, HSI will aggressively protect our communities from those who seek to sexually exploit children.”

“The sentence handed down in the case against Mr. Cuadrado brings to an end one of the most disturbing child exploitation cases in the history of our office,” said Alysa Erichs special agent in charge of HSI Miami. “This also sends a message to those who take advantage of the innocence of our children, that we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Miami Beach Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.