Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, have announced that Orlando Guzman, 73, from New Britain, has pleaded guilty to child exploitation offenses. These charges arise from his sexual abuse of a minor and using an app to distribute and receive child sexual abuse material.
Court documents and statements indicate that HSI has been investigating a network involved in sharing images and videos of child sexual abuse through private groups on an internet chat application. The investigation identified Guzman's account as active in two such groups. It was discovered that between February and August 2022, Guzman sexually abused a minor female while recording the acts with mobile devices.
On September 2, 2022, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Guzman's mobile devices. The analysis revealed over 4,000 video files and more than 7,000 image files containing child pornography. Among these were materials depicting Guzman's abuse of the minor victim.
Guzman has been detained since his arrest on September 7, 2022. He pleaded guilty to producing child pornography—an offense with a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 15 years and up to a maximum of 30 years—and possessing child pornography—an offense carrying up to a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date is yet to be scheduled.
The case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the New Britain Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
This prosecution falls under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Reports regarding cases of child exploitation can be made at www.cybertipline.com.