BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Robinson Alberto Baez-Nova, 39, of Jamaica Plain, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of child pornography, and two counts of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Nov. 17, 2023. Baez-Nova was charged by criminal complaint on Apr. 29, 2021.
On Nov. 5, 2020, police received 13 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline reports associated with a Google account and email addresses linked to Baez-Nova. These reports indicated that the Google account uploaded suspected child pornography to Baez-Nova’s Google Photos between Nov. 14, 2018 and Aug. 27, 2020. A subsequent search of Baez-Nova’s cellphone revealed images and videos of child pornography.
A further review of Baez-Nova’s cellphone revealed a WhatsApp chat with an individual saved in Baez-Nova’s phone with the initials “Y.P.” who has since been identified as a 17-year-old male living the in the Dominican Republic. Y.P. had access to his niece, referred to the Indictment as “MINOR A.” Within this chat, Baez-Nova and Y.P. discussed MINOR A’s ninth birthday and Y.P. requested money from Baez-Nova for MINOR A’s birthday celebration. Y.P. continually told Baez-Nova how much his family and MINOR A needed money and requested that Baez-Nova send money to him. Baez-Nova, in turn, beginning in or around July 2020, told Y.P. that he would send money if Y.P. exploited MINOR A by producing child pornography of MINOR A. Ultimately, Y.P. sent Baez-Nova five different videos of MINOR A in response to the Baez-Nova’s specific requests.
In addition to the chat outlined above with Y.P., while searching Baez-Nova’s device, law enforcement located another WhatsApp chat with another minor female who has been identified as a 14-year-old female residing in the Dominican Republic, hereinafter referred to as “MINOR B.” During this conversation, Baez-Nova solicited MINOR B to obtain images and videos of “little kids” engaged in sexual conduct in exchange for money.
On August 27, 2020, Baez-Nova distributed child pornography to MINOR B. Additionally, on August 28, 2020, Baez-Nova distributed child pornography of MINOR A to MINOR B.
Ultimately, over 200 images and over 400 videos of child pornography were found on Baez-Nova’s cell phone and in his Google Photos account.
The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and up to 30 years in prison. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Each charge also provides for a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Nashua Police Department; Hillsborough County (N.H.) District Attorney’s Office; and Homeland Security Investigations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Duane and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.
