TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A Tallahassee man pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the production and distribution of explicit images of children. <\/p>\n
Justin Ruiz, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, one county of receipt of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n
More on crime in our area: <\/p>\n
Court documents show that a 2024 investigation by South Dakota police determined Ruiz had solicited a minor to send him explicit photographs.<\/p>\n
Further investigation included a search of his Tallahassee residence and uncovered that Ruiz had communicated online with \u201cknown and unknown persons, many of them apparently minors and exchanged child pornography with those individuals,\u201d the U.S. Attorney\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n
Ruiz faces up to 30 years in prison on the production charge, up to 20 years for each receipt and distribution charge and up to 20 years on the possession charge. <\/p>\n
Sentencing is scheduled for June.<\/p>\n
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