On May 14, 2025, United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll sentenced Efraín Pablo Cruz-González to 450 months (37 years and six months) in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release for child exploitation charges against four female minor victims.
Cruz-González, 36, from Toa Baja, PR, was indicted on February 15, 2024, and pleaded guilty on February 6, 2025.
According to court documents, from August 2019 to May 2022, Efraín Pablo Cruz-González knowingly used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a female minor between the ages of seven and 10 years old.
Another female minor between the ages of four and seven years to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant used a cellular phone to record the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On December 24, 2019, and August 19, 2021, the defendant used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two other female minors of prepubescent ages to produce images of them engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
“The defendant engaged in acts of sexual exploitation against defenceless children and produced videos of his sexual abuse for his personal gratification,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
“Let this sentence serve as a clear warning—there is no safe haven in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands for predators who exploit children,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office.
Kowalski added, “This outcome is a direct result of the swift, relentless efforts of our agents and partners, who acted with precision and resolve. We are committed to defending the most vulnerable among us, and we will continue to pursue justice with urgency and focus wherever these crimes occur.”
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