Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of Minors

In a notable sentencing decision on Thursday, August 5, 2024, Davis Burgos-Collazo was handed a 45-year prison term by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen following his conviction on multiple counts of attempted sexual exploitation of minors. The sentencing took place in federal court in Brooklyn, marking a significant outcome in the prosecution of child sexual exploitation cases.

Charges and Conviction

Burgos-Collazo faced serious charges that included five counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of distributing child pornography, one count of accessing child pornography with intent to view, and one count of committing a felony sexual offense involving minors while being a registered sex offender. The court also imposed a restitution payment of $33,000 as part of the judgment.

The defendant was found guilty by a federal jury in July 2022 after a one-week trial, highlighting the severity of his offenses and the strength of the evidence presented against him.

Nature of the Crimes

According to United States Attorney Breon Peace and FBI officials, Burgos-Collazo's actions were nothing short of predatory. He coerced a 10-year-old child into performing sex acts via Instagram. When the victim pleaded for him to stop, Burgos-Collazo resorted to threats, vowing to share explicit images of her online with her peers if she did not comply further.

The government’s investigation revealed that Burgos-Collazo operated using at least 26 different Instagram accounts, disguising himself as a modeling scout under names such as "future models" and "preteen beauty pics." His tactics targeted incredibly vulnerable victims, with some as young as nine years old.

Prior Criminal History

This was not Burgos-Collazo's first brush with the law. In March 2006, he was convicted of sexually abusing multiple minors, with victims as young as seven. The continuation of his predatory behavior while being a registered sex offender raised significant concerns regarding public safety and the protection of children in the community.

Federal Response and Public Safety Initiatives

The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized that the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the US Department of Justice aiming to combat the rise of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative leverages the collaboration of federal, state, and local resources to effectively locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, as well as to identify and rescue victims.