Illegal Immigrant in Laramie Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography Production
LARAMIE, Wyo. – Maycon Stiven Molina Perez, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant from Nicaragua residing in Laramie, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the production of child pornography. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin, follows a guilty plea to two counts of producing illicit materials involving a minor.
Deep Search: Case Details and Evidence
The investigation began on July 8, 2025, when the mother of a victim discovered a video on Perez’s Samsung Galaxy phone depicting him sexually assaulting her child. She immediately surrendered the device to the Laramie County Police Department. Authorities attempted to locate Perez at his residence but discovered he had fled to Colorado. He was apprehended later that same day.
Upon seizure of his devices, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force uncovered a massive cache of evidence:
Samsung Galaxy: Contained over 1,400 files of child pornography, including the video of the assault on the Wyoming child, as well as content depicting bestiality and infant/toddler sexual abuse.
iPhone: Contained an additional 1,280 image files and videos, including further footage of the same victim.
Distribution: Forensic analysis revealed Perez was actively sharing these files through encrypted messaging apps, specifically Telegram and WhatsApp.
Under the terms of his sentencing, Perez will serve 360 months (30 years) in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He has also been ordered to pay at least $3,000 in restitution to any requesting victims. Following his incarceration, Perez is subject to immediate deportation proceedings.
Background Info: Project Safe Childhood
This prosecution is part of “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet.
The case highlights the cross-jurisdictional cooperation between the Laramie County Police Department, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith emphasized the severity of the crime in a statement, noting that while no sentence can undo the trauma inflicted, the judgment ensures the perpetrator is held fully accountable before being removed from the country.
Objections: Legal Context and Plea Agreement
While the sentence is substantial, legal analysts note that the plea agreement significantly reduced Perez’s potential liability. Initially facing five felony charges, Perez could have been sentenced to a maximum of 120 years in prison and fined up to $1.25 million. By accepting the plea deal for two counts, the defense successfully capped his prison time at 30 years and avoided the imposition of fines, which the court waived after determining Perez had no ability to pay.
From a defense perspective, the agreement secured a concurrent sentence structure rather than consecutive terms for each violation, a standard objective in ensuring a defendant does not receive a de facto life sentence. The legal proceedings adhered to strict due process requirements, ensuring the defendant was represented by counsel throughout the negotiation of the plea and sentencing phases.
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