MIAMI _ A Los Angeles man who coerced an 11-year-old Coral Springs girl _ and at least 80 other children and teens from eight states _ to send explicit videos and pictures will serve 30 years in federal prison, a judge has ruled.
Adrian Fierros, 21, pleaded guilty in January to producing child pornography, distributing child pornography, and online extortion, court records show. He was sentenced June 30.
In the case of the 11-year-old, police say he went as far as sending the illicit photos of her to six of her friends, ages 9 to 11.
According to Coral Springs police, the 11-year-old told police she was befriended by someone she thought was a 16-year-old girl through Instagram. Police say it turned out to be Fierros, who "used extortion techniques" to convince the young girl to "produce child pornography."
On March 5, the girl told police and she was told to block the suspect on Instagram.
"As the Coral Springs Police Department worked to obtain a search warrant for Instagram, the victim advised us that the suspect had shared her illicit photographs with six of her friends (ages 9-11) via social media," police said in a news release Wednesday.
Police said with the help of warrants and subpoenas, detectives identified Fierros as the person behind the screen.
In the matter of a three-month span, Fierros "had amassed 80 juvenile victims (ages 10-14 _ extorting and threatening them and their families if his demands for illicit photographs and sexually explicit videos were not met," police said.
"Based on the overwhelming evidence obtained during the investigation by the Coral Springs Police Department's Special Victims Unit, Fierros admitted to his crimes," police said in the news release. "Coral Springs Police's Special Victim's Unit was able to locate and interview many of the other victims who resided in eight different states."
In addition to the 30 years in federal prison, Fierros must pay an $800 fine and $5,000 for the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act assessment. He will also have to register as a sex offender of the highest tier when he is released.
Coral Springs police used the case as a reminder about the importance of talking to children about internet safety.
"Parents should discuss the proper do's and don'ts of social media with their children, especially if they are engaging on any of the popular social media platforms," the department said. "We want to stress to our youngest members on these platforms that if you are asked to do something that feels uncomfortable, stop and think before you send anything, especially if it's to someone you met through a social platform. The best way to prevent situations like these from happening is education and discussion."
