Rafael Antonio Saldana, a 39-year-old resident of Miami-Dade County, has been sentenced to over 38 years in prison following his conviction for various child exploitation offenses. The verdict was delivered by a South Florida federal jury in October 2024.
The case against Saldana stemmed from incidents in 2023 when he solicited sexually explicit images from three minors aged 14, 16, and 17. He attempted to meet them for sexual activities. Notably, Saldana arranged to meet the youngest minor at a McDonald's with plans to take her to his house. Law enforcement intervened as Saldana arrived at the meeting location. Further investigation uncovered over sixty images of child sexual exploitation in his possession.
During the trial, Saldana was found guilty on several charges including three counts of attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity, attempted production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors, receipt of such depictions, and possession of them.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office; and Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was conducted by HSI Miami and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey Pence Tomanelli and Arielle Klepach.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. PSC coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals who exploit children and rescue victims.
Further information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. Updates on this case are available on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Individuals with information regarding child sexual exploitation are encouraged to contact authorities at (877) 4-HSI-TIP [(877) 447-4847].
Court documents related to this case can be accessed via the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website or through their PACER system under case number 23-cr-20308.