A federal jury in Miami has convicted Osvaldo Daniel Fernandez, a 61-year-old Argentine national, on two counts of production and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material. The verdict was delivered on September 10.
Court documents and trial evidence showed that Fernandez sexually abused two minors and recorded the abuse. The investigation began in May 2022 after law enforcement received information about the abuse. Investigators found that one victim, referred to as Minor 1, was abused between the ages of 9 and 17, while another, Minor 2, was abused between ages six and 15. During the investigation, Minor 1 reported that Fernandez had made recordings of the abuse.
A search warrant at Fernandez’s home resulted in the seizure of several cellphones and a laptop. Authorities discovered over 500 sexually explicit images and videos involving Minor 1 from ages nine to seventeen, as well as images and videos of Minor 2 at age nine. Additionally, more than 900 images depicting other pre-pubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct were found.
Fernandez is scheduled for sentencing on December 11. He faces up to 30 years in prison for each production count and up to 20 years for the possession count. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.
“Crimes against children are the most vile and unforgivable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Fernandez robbed these victims of their innocence and dignity, and then sought to immortalize their pain. That cruelty will now be met with justice. The Southern District of Florida will relentlessly pursue predators who exploit children and will ensure they face the full weight of the law. No sanctuary, no excuse, and no escape—those who prey on children will be hunted down and held to account.”
Following sentencing, Fernandez is subject to deportation.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones along with Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. The FBI Miami office led the investigation with support from the Miami Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena Smukler and Audrey Pence Tomanelli are prosecuting.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies.
Further information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Court documents related to this case are available at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20406.
