SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – After a five-day jury trial, Lionel Albino Galindo was found guilty of six counts of child exploitation. United States District Court Judge Maria Antongiorgi-Jordan presided over the trial.
According to court documents, from February 2024 throughout March 19, 2024, Lionel Albino Galindo sexually exploited a 13-year-old female minor. The defendant used a cellular phone as well as internet instant messaging services, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 13-year-old female minor, to engage in sexual activity, which includes the production of child pornography.
During trial, the government presented evidence to prove that Albino Galindo knowingly transported the female minor to engage in sexual activity on several occasions and produced visual depictions of such conduct. The defendant also received child pornography from the female minor and sent obscene material to the minor.
The jury found Lionel Albino Galindo guilty of one count of coercion and enticement of a minor; one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; one count of sexual exploitation of children; one count for receipt of child pornography; one count for possession of child pornography; and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor.
The defendant faces the following possible sentences: for coercion and enticement and transportation of minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life; for sexual exploitation of children he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to 30 years; for possession of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a minor he faces up to 10 years; and for receipt of child pornography he faces five to 20 years in prison; all charges followed by a term of supervised release of no less than 5 years up to life. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10, 2025, at 9:30 am. The defendant was ordered to remain under the custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing.
“I commend the prosecutors, and our law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication in bringing this child predator to justice,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico.
“The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting our most vulnerable—our children,” said Devin Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “This verdict underscores the seriousness of crimes against minors and reinforces our dedication to holding offenders accountable. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who prey on children face the full force of justice.”
The FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) Jenifer Y. Hernández Vega, Chief of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit and AUSA Emelina Agrait Barreto prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
