A Tennessee man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison after a Miami federal jury convicted him in what prosecutors describe as a sustained pattern of sexual abuse, coercion and attempted trafficking of a minor.
Jurors found 65-year-old Ramon Arellano Sandoval guilty on Feb. 24, 2026, of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted production of visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor. Prosecutors say the victim was 14 and that the abuse played out in rural Florida and in Colombia. Sandoval is being held in federal custody in Miami while the court moves toward sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said in a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office that the jury’s decision brought justice for the victim, saying Sandoval “pressured a child to create sexually explicit videos.” Prosecutors characterized his conduct as predatory and said federal partners will continue to go after online predators who target children.
Legal details
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, investigators uncovered thousands of text and video messages, along with electronic payment records, that were tied to the case, which is filed as 24-cr-20519. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Farina and Camille Smith are handling the prosecution.
On the attempted sex trafficking charge, Sandoval faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. The attempted production count carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years. The final punishment will be left to a federal judge, who must weigh the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
Investigation and reporting
Local coverage has noted that Sandoval, who had been living in Antioch, Tennessee, is being held at a federal facility in Miami as both sides prepare for sentencing, according to Local 10. Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted with the probe, prosecutors said.
Why this matters
The case is unfolding against the backdrop of a broader rise in internet-facilitated child exploitation. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has reported sharp increases in online enticement and child sex trafficking reports in recent years, a trend detailed in a briefing from NCMEC. That surge is one reason officials say federal efforts such as Project Safe Childhood remain a priority.
Authorities have not yet announced a sentencing date. Prosecutors have asked that anyone with information related to the case contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
