Osman Edgardo Cubas-Alvarenga, 36, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 10 on charges of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and illegal reentry into the United States by an unlawful alien. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The case is scheduled for jury trial on April 20 before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. If convicted, Cubas-Alvarenga faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years. He remains in custody at the Santa Rosa County Jail under the supervision of the United States Marshals Service pending trial.
The investigation involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation by a grand jury and does not constitute evidence of guilt. “All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” according to the statement.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case also falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159 to address criminal cartels and organizations operating within or affecting the United States with special focus on crimes involving children.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 offices acting as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General.
