Massachusetts sex offender sentenced in Boston for sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl

“A registered sex offender from Lawrence has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl.

Irvin Abreu, 38, was sentenced on March 31, 2023 by US District Judge Patti B. Saris to 315 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In April 2022, Abreu pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children.

“Upon being released from custody for enticing a 15-year-old child, Mr. Abreu – a registered sex offender – immediately began to sexualize and harm another child. His victim was even younger this time at 12 years old. This recidivist is a predator who has repeatedly sought out to harm innocent children and rob them of their childhood. He is a danger to our society and remains exactly where he belongs – behind bars and away from our children. We commend the victim’s mother for reporting this predator’s exploitation and harm of her child so swiftly,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

“Abreu is a registered sex offender who went on to offend again, sexually abusing a child and documenting the abuse by producing child exploitation material. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners whose vigilance and collaboration brought this case to our attention and has resulted in this significant sentence,” said Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.

Two months after being released from state custody and placed on probation for the exploitation of a 15-year-old girl, Abreu met a 12-year-old girl on the internet, groomed her and had sex with her on more than one occasion, documenting the sexual abuse in videos and photographs. The victim’s mother discovered communications between them and immediately reported the matter to local police. Forensic analysis of Abreu’s phone revealed photos, videos and text messages, including imagery depicting his sexual abuse of and sexualized communications with the victim. Additionally, Abreu’s internet history revealed searches for elementary schools in Lawrence, an internet search for “first time sex positions for virgins,” and an internet search for “what does pedophile mean.”

U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI Acting SAC Krol made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit and the District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

“My office is also committed to prevention,” said U.S. Attorney Rollins. “In addition to our school-based outreach, we offer trainings for parents and guardians across the Commonwealth to help demystify some of the ways predators access our children through modern technology. We will always investigate and prosecute predators, while simultaneously committing to educate caregivers about the dangers our young people can face in the digital world.” For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.”