A federal jury in Miami convicted Ramon Arellano Sandoval, a 65-year-old man from Antioch, Tennessee, on Feb. 24 of attempting to sex traffic a minor living in Colombia and attempting to produce child sexual abuse material involving the victim.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the exploitation of minors online and abroad. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Sandoval exchanged thousands of text and video messages with a 14-year-old girl living in rural Colombia. Despite knowing her age, he repeatedly solicited sexually explicit videos from her and directed her to create such material, often sending electronic payments in exchange. Sandoval also traveled to Colombia with the intent to engage in commercial sex acts with the minor.
“The jury’s verdict delivered justice for a 14-year-old victim who was targeted and exploited by a 65-year-old man who knew exactly what he was doing,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence showed that this defendant pressured a child to create sexually explicit videos and even traveled overseas to abuse her. That conduct is predatory, criminal, and intolerable. The Southern District of Florida will continue working with our federal partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit children online or anywhere else.”
Sandoval was found guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a minor as well as attempted production of visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor. He faces up to life in federal prison for attempted sex trafficking and up to 30 years for attempted production charges. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones announced the conviction along with Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations Miami, which is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Farina and Camille Smith are prosecuting.
Related court documents can be found on the website for the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or through its public access system under case number 24-cr-20519.
