San Diego Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 18, 2023

SAN DIEGO – Pedro Escamilla Del Rosario of San Diego was sentenced in federal court today to 360 months in prison for sexually abusing a drugged eight-year-old girl while another person recorded the assault.

The defendant pleaded guilty on March 27, 2023, to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

According to the publicly filed documents in the case, in March 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the user of a Google, LLC account who had been uploading digital files of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

From March 2022 through June 2022, HSI agents received 41 separate reports regarding the Google account, and it involved approximately 6,700 digital files. Based on this information, HSI obtained a search warrant for the Google account and discovered thousands of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This account belonged to Del Rosario. Among the visual depictions located in Del Rosario’s account, HSI agents discovered two videos which were produced in March 2018, one of which forms the basis of this federal conviction. 

Del Rosario was subsequently arrested and confessed to his involvement in the creation of the videos, including sexually molesting the minor-victim when he knew she had been over-medicated. Del Rosario also admitted to possessing the other visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

At today’s sentencing hearing, after the court heard statements by the minor-victim and the minor-victim’s foster parent, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Sherwood argued for a substantial custodial sentence because the crimes committed by Del Rosario had caused irreparable harm to the minor-victim and had been perpetrated and recorded purely for Del Rosario’s sexual gratification. 

In imposing the 360-month sentence, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson explained that the “statutory maximum for the offense of conviction, is necessary and sufficient, but not greater than necessary” to accomplish the sentencing objectives, including the need to protect the community from future crimes by Del Rosario.

“This defendant’s heinous actions have caused irreparable harm to the victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “The children in our community are often the most vulnerable members of our society.  There are few crimes that are more vicious and outrageous than crimes involving their sexual exploitation.” Haden thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.

“The sexual abuse and exploitation of children victims rob their emotional and psychological development aside from stealing their innocence,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “The defendants’ deviant and perverse behavior will not be tolerated by HSI. This kind of abuse strikes at the very foundation of our society and we all must come together to combat this unspeakable crime that plagues the public welfare; our children deserve better.” 

DEFENDANTS                                             Case Number 22cr2752-TWR                                      

Pedro Escamilla Del Rosario                                      Age: 44                                   San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2251(a) and (e)

Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine; mandatory minimum 15 years in prison

AGENCY

Homeland Security Investigations