LAWFUEL – Legal News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, U…

LAWFUEL – Legal News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced today that defendant Jose Ruiz entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge James P. Cohn to possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment.

According to the charges and statements made in open court, on September 15, 2004, FBI agents interviewed defendant Ruiz at his residence in Hollywood, Florida. During this interview, defendant Ruiz admitted to using two computers to visit several pornographic web sites, including some depicting child pornography.

An analysis of the defendant’s desktop computer revealed hundreds of images depicting child pornography. A separate analysis of the defendant’s laptop computer also revealed images depicting child pornography. A subsequent forensic analysis of the desktop revealed more than 600 images of child pornography and approximately 26 images of child pornography on the laptop. A copy of the images on the desktop computer were forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for identification of possible victims of sexual exploitation. Of the images of child pornography examined, 116 images were identified as victims of sexual exploitation, all of whom were sexually exploited outside the State of Florida.

In addition, defendant Ruiz admitted to engaging in oral sex with a minor. The minor was identified through the assistance of the Miramar Police Department and the matter was referred to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office. After a trial, in March 2006, a jury convicted Ruiz of one count of sexual battery upon a child and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation. On April 19, 2006, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

After the state trial, Ruiz appeared in federal to court on the possession of child pornography charges, to which he pled guilty today. Ruiz’s sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2006 before the Honorable Judge Cohn.

Mr. Acosta commends the diligent investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Miramar Police Department, and the Broward State Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Waugh.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/ .

Scroll to Top