Defendant Allegedly Recorded His Sexual Abuse of Children in
Photos and Videos
A 12-count indictment was filed this afternoon in federal court
in Brooklyn charging Orlando Lopez with travelling across a state line with
intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse of a child, sexual exploitation of a
child and possession of child pornography.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Melinda Katz,
Queens County District Attorney, and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York
City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“As alleged, for years Lopez horribly victimized numerous
young children, some of whom we are still endeavoring to identify,” stated
United States Attorney Donoghue. “In
addition to his unthinkable abuse of these young children – many of them
infants – Lopez compounded his atrocities by producing
thousands of photos and videos of his crime and we pledge to prosecute him to
the fullest extent.” Mr. Donoghue
expressed his grateful appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s
Office for their assistance with the case.
“The conduct alleged here is horrendous. Mr. Lopez allegedly used friendships with his
victims' parents as a means to access children he wouldn't generally have
contact with, which leads us to believe there are more victims out there. Readers should be stunned into action by an
investigation like this,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “We are asking anyone who has had any contact
with Mr. Lopez at any point to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Please take a moment to make this call. The ages and numbers of victims are another
warning that we must do more as a society to protect our children.”
“The defendant charged in this Federal indictment is alleged
to have violated numerous children for years – and additionally recorded and
took still photos of these alleged vile acts,” stated Queens District Attorney
Katz. “When I was a member of the
Assembly, I authored legislation to hold pedophiles accountable for sexually
abusing children. Child predators will be held accountable and prosecuted as we
work with our law enforcement partners to end the abuse of innocent
children.”
“This defendant is accused of preying on the most vulnerable
members of our communities – our children. Together with the Unites States
Attorney’s office, the FBI and Queens District Attorney’s office, our NYPD
investigators worked relentlessly to bring justice for victims of sexual abuse
and exploitation,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
According to the indictment and other court filings, for
over a decade, Lopez repeatedly sexually abused more than a dozen children,
many of whom lived near his Queens residence.
Between approximately May 2010 and June 2018, Lopez produced thousands
of explicit photos and videos of one female child who was two years-old when
the abuse began. Law enforcement also
recovered thousands of other photos and videos from Lopez’s residence depicting
him engaging in sexual activity with children.
In July 2018, Lopez transported one seven-year-old girl across state
lines with the intent to sexually abuse her.
In order to gain access to his victims, Lopez attempted to befriend
their parents.
The government’s investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about sexual
exploitation by Lopez is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
If convicted, Lopez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30
years and up to life in prison for the transportation charge, and a minimum of
15 years and up to 30 years in prison on each of the child exploitation
charges.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the
defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a
nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to
combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices,
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better
locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the
Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe
Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorney Tanya Hajjar.
The Defendant:
ORLANDO LOPEZ
Age: 54
Jamaica, Queens
E.D.N.Y. Criminal Docket No. 20-52 (EK)
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