A Rhode Island resident has entered a guilty plea to charges of cyberstalking and distributing child pornography, according to an announcement by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Melvin Vidal Herrera Perez, 21, confessed in federal court to befriending a minor online and persuading her to create sexually explicit images. He later used these images to intimidate and harass the victim after she reached adulthood.
Perez acknowledged employing various methods to inflict emotional distress on the victim. These included creating websites displaying her images, sending them via text and email, and sharing them with people within her personal and social circles.
Since his arrest in December 2024, Perez has been held in custody. His sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2025. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.