New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“A Dorchester man has been charged with the sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old minor.
Miguel Hernandez, a/k/a Miguel Gomez-Lopez, 29, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child. Hernandez was arrested on Sept. 25, 2023 and held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Oct. 2, 2023 in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, in April 2023, Hernandez messaged the 14-year-old victim on WhatsApp and asked if she wanted to meet in person. It is alleged that, on May 5, 2023, Hernandez messaged the victim, “I like you little girl,” and subsequently coerced the victim to engage in a sexual relationship with him. A forensic review of Hernandez’s devices allegedly revealed numerous sexually explicit photos and videos of the victim that Hernandez had taken – including a video of Hernandez having sex with the victim.
The charge child exploitation provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.
