Waterbury Man Admits Producing Child Pornography

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Jesus F. Gonzalez, Sr., 37, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to one count of production of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gonzalez had sexual intercourse with a minor female victim on several occasions between approximately February 2012 and August 2012. On approximately August 9, 2012, Gonzalez used his cell phone to take multiple pictures of the victim, naked, in sexually explicit positions. Gonzalez then maintained the pictures on his phone. The victim was approximately 14 years old at the time the sexually explicit pictures were taken.

Judge Bryant has scheduled sentencing for April 23, 2014, at which time Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Gonzalez has been detained in state custody since his arrest on August 11, 2012, on related state charges.

This matter is being investigated by the Waterbury Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office in Waterbury also provided critical assistance in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.