Christian Hernandez, 27, of New Port Richey has been sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for transporting a minor from Mexico for sexual activity. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Hernandez began sexually abusing the victim in Mexico in 2019 when she was about 12 years old. He later illegally brought her into the U.S. to live with him, where the abuse continued. He also forced the victim to work to repay a claimed debt related to her transportation.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King prosecuted it, according to the Department of Justice. The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
