ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
06/06/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/06/2023 11:39
Virginia man sentenced to 10 years for distributing child sexual abuse material after HSI Washington, D.C. investigation
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. landed a Virginia man in federal prison for 10 years followed by 15 years of supervised release, for distribution of child sexual abuse material. Francisco Burgos Jr., 38, of Chantilly, Virginia, received the sentence May 17 at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria.
"Francisco Burgos perpetuated a crime that depends upon the victimization of children," said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. "HSI Washington, D.C. cannot allow such predators to operate in our Washington, D.C. and Virginia neighborhoods. We will continue to do everything within our power to ensure the safety of the residents of the communities we have sworn to protect."
According to the investigation, in May 2020, Burgos used an internet messaging and chat app to chat with a person located in Australia about their sexual interest in children. Burgos sent the person a video depicting child sexual abuse material in exchange for two such videos from the individual, who was actively recording the sexual abuse of his own children.
Special agents from HSI Washington, D.C. searched Burgos' hotel room in September 2022 and seized electronic devices containing child sexual abuse material. A thorough analysis of the devices led to 18 videos and 31 images of child sexual abuse material.
This investigation was conducted by HSI Washington, D.C. with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Anyone with information regarding the sexual abuse of children or child sexual abuse material production or distribution is encouraged to contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-DHS-2423 (866-347-2423). The HSI Tip Line is manned 24 hours a day.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI's workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS's largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
Learn more about HSI's mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter @HSI_DC.