Federal agents have arrested a Boca Raton man who volunteered at a church school after investigators say they uncovered child sexual abuse images on his phone. Court filings state that the volunteer worked with youth at the church, and a forensic exam allegedly revealed dozens of illegal pictures and thousands of additional files tied to an online site. The federal arrest, filed this week in the Southern District of Florida, is the latest local entry in a broader national push against online child exploitation.
According to BocaNewsNow, the defendant is identified in court papers as Hugo Andre Jimenez and faces charges in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for receipt and possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. The outlet reports that FBI agents executed search warrants on October 23, 2025, on Jimenez’s person, vehicle and Boca Raton residence, and that he provided an iPhone passcode during a post‑Miranda interview. Forensic examiners allegedly recovered 46 images showing the sexual abuse of pre‑pubescent children and thousands of additional files linked to a website already on law enforcement’s radar. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reviewed the material and identified 14 separate confirmed series, BocaNewsNow reports.
What investigators say
Federal law does not treat these charges lightly. Under 18 U.S.C. §2252, receipt or distribution of child sexual abuse material typically carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a statutory maximum of 20 years, while penalties for possession can vary based on aggravating factors. The final sentence in any case depends on the specific counts and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which weigh factors such as the age of the victims, the number of files involved and any prior criminal history. The statute sets out those ranges in detail. 18 U.S.C. §2252
School response
Letters obtained by BocaNewsNow show that St. Paul Lutheran Church and School initially told families it was not involved in the federal investigation, then later informed them it had opened its own internal inquiry. The campus, located at 701 W. Palmetto Park Road, lists contact details on its website (St. Paul Lutheran Church and School), but has not published a public statement outlining next steps.
Investigative partners and process
Investigations into online child sexual abuse material often start with digital tips that flow to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. NCMEC’s Child Victim Identification Program then works with law enforcement agencies to review images and attempt to identify victims. The organization says it handles millions of images and provides forensic analysis and investigative leads to partners including the FBI and local police departments. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The criminal complaint filed in this case initiates the federal prosecution, and the matter will move through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where arraignment and detention hearings will be scheduled by the court. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This report will be updated as additional court records and official statements become available.
