U.S. Attorney Charges Convicted Sex Offender Who Had Fled To Mexico With Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor And Distribution Of Child Pornography

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that KENNEDY CARTER, a convicted sex offender who had fled to Mexico from probation in Oregon following a conviction for encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree in that state, was arrested yesterday evening and charged with sexual exploitation of a child and other child sex offenses.  Yesterday, March 21, 2024, CARTER was deported from Mexico by Mexican immigration authorities and arrived at San Francisco International Airport, where he was arrested by the FBI upon arrival.  CARTER will be presented today in San Francisco federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The charges unsealed today reflect the tenacity of the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners who tracked down this alleged recidivist sex offender to Mexico after he fled from probation in Oregon.  The defendant went to great lengths to avoid responsibility for his alleged unconscionable actions, but we relentlessly pursue justice for victims of child sexual abuse, and those responsible will face the full weight of the law, no matter where they may hide.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Kennedy Carter, a convicted sex offender, allegedly coerced a 12-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photos and videos of herself over the Internet.  Carter’s arrest reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting children from dangerous sexual predators.  Crimes of this nature are inexcusable, making victims out of some of our most vulnerable members of society.  We urge parents to continue having conversations with their children about safe online surfing and encourage the public to come forward with information that could help us identify other potential victims in this or any other case.” 

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

From at least on or about May 20, 2023, through at least on or about May 29, 2023, CARTER knowingly induced, enticed, and coerced a 12-year-old female minor located in Putnam County (“Victim-1”) to engage in sexually explicit conduct, to take sexually explicit photos and videos of herself engaging in such conduct, and to transmit them over the internet to CARTER.  In addition, from at least on or about May 20, 2023, through at least on or about May 29, 2023, CARTER knowingly distributed material that contained child pornography, including photographs and videos of another minor female (“Victim-2”) to Victim-1 over the Internet.  Finally, because CARTER is required by federal or any other law to register as a sex offender, and is so registered, and has committed a felony offense involving a minor in engaging in sexual exploitation of a minor, he is also subject to an enhanced penalty as charged in the Complaint. 

Any individuals with information concerning KENNEDY CARTER and any individuals who may have encountered someone using the WhatsApp username 5215591447960@s.whatsapp.net or the aliases “Mikey Portuguez Perez” or “Javed Montero,” please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://tips.fbi.gov. 

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CARTER, 27, previously of Corvallis, Oregon, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which, because of his prior state conviction in Oregon for encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree, carries an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison; one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which, again due to his prior conviction, carries an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison; and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed for the underlying offense of sexual exploitation of a child.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.  Mr. Williams also thanked law enforcement partners in Mexico, the Benton County Probation Office in Benton County, Oregon, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California for their assistance.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret N. Vasu is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.