Puerto Rico Man Sentenced to 260 Months for Sexually Exploiting His 2-Year-Old Daughter
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico announced that on October 21, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón sentenced Ángel Javier Santos-Méndez to 260 months in prison — 21 years and eight months — followed by 20 years of supervised release, for child exploitation charges against a female minor victim. Santos-Méndez, 34, is from Caguas, Puerto Rico.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Santos-Méndez was indicted on October 30, 2025, arrested on November 5, 2025, and pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026. Court documents state that on September 22, 2025, he employed, used and coerced his 2-year-old daughter to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions, using his cellular device. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Puerto Rico's Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from the Police of Puerto Rico regarding the allegations, and the investigation led to his arrest and prosecution.
"Child sexual abuse is a depraved criminal act that harms the most innocent among us," said Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, adding that while the prosecution cannot undo the damage, the sentence prevents further harm and provides the victim justice. Yariel Ramos, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Juan, said HSI will relentlessly pursue offenders who exploit children.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative, launched in May 2006, to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：San Juan 市景，圆顶建筑为波多黎各议会大厦（资料图）。照片：OliverZena，公共领域，维基共享资源。
