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Hernandez Receives Over 24 Years in Prison for Transporting Minor Across Borders for Sexual Abuse

Hernandez got 24 years for bringing a minor from Mexico to the U.S. for sexual abuse.

byEditorial Staff

September 29, 2025, 1:05 PM

Executive Summary

Christian Hernandez was sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in federal prison for transporting a minor from Mexico into the U.S. with intent for sexual activity, plus lifetime supervised release and sex offender registration.

Hernandez began sexually abusing the victim in Mexico when she was 12, then facilitated her illegal entry into the U.S. at age 15, where he continued abuse and forced her to work.

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.

Laws and Precedent

The defendant was sentenced under federal law for transporting a minor from Mexico into the United States with the intent to engage in sexual activity, a charge that falls under federal statutes aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse, consistent with the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. The conviction also carries a lifetime term of supervised release and mandatory sex offender registration, reflecting the severe nature of such federal offenses.

A New Port Richey man, Christian Hernandez, 27, was sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in federal prison on Monday, September 29, 2025, for transporting a minor from Mexico into the United States with the intent to engage in sexual activity. U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven also ordered a lifetime term of supervised release and sex offender registration for Hernandez, who pleaded guilty to the charge on July 1, 2025, in a case prosecuted in Tampa, Florida.

Case Details

According to court documents, Hernandez began sexually abusing the victim when she was approximately 12 years old in Mexico in 2019. Three years later, in 2022, when the victim was 15, Hernandez facilitated her illegal entry into the United States to reside with him in New Port Richey.

Once in Florida, Hernandez continued to physically and sexually abuse the victim. He also compelled her to work, forcing her to repay a purported debt for her unlawful entry into the country.

Investigation and Prosecution

The investigation into Hernandez’s crimes was a collaborative effort involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King led the prosecution of the case.

Broader Context

This sentencing is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative focuses on locating, apprehending, and prosecuting individuals who sexually exploit children, and on identifying, rescuing, and seeking justice for child victims.