A Los Angeles man who preyed on a 12-year-old North Port child online has been ordered to spend the next 30 years in federal prison. Rigoberto Rios Gallardo, 33, was sentenced Thursday after admitting he coerced the child into producing sexually explicit images on multiple occasions in August and September 2024. After his prison term, he will remain under federal supervision for the rest of his life.
Sentence and plea
According to federal prosecutors, Rios Gallardo pleaded guilty in March to three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. On Thursday, the judge formally handed down a 30-year sentence.
North Port Police Public Information Officer Brittany Kammerer said the outcome “sends a clear message that those who target children online will be found and held accountable, no matter where they live.”
North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison added that while “no sentence can undo the trauma experienced by a victim,” the lengthy prison term means a dangerous offender “will spend decades behind bars,” as reported by WWSB.
Indictment and counts
An indictment unsealed in February 2025 charged Rios Gallardo with three counts of producing child sexual abuse material and one count of coercion and enticement. Prosecutors said he “used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced” the 12-year-old on three separate dates in August and September 2024.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the North Port Police Department and prosecuted in the Middle District of Florida. Prosecutors said images and messages gathered during the investigation formed the backbone of the federal production charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
How investigators say he contacted the victim
Local reporting and court filings indicate Rios Gallardo first reached the child on TikTok, then shifted the conversation to encrypted platforms including Telegram, Discord and Signal. Investigators say he used those apps to pressure the 12-year-old into sending explicit images, which he then stored.
Those images were later recovered and entered into evidence in the federal case. Those account details and the sentence were reported by WWSB.
Advice for parents
Officials are using the case to remind parents that prevention starts at home. They urge families to keep open conversations about online safety, closely monitor which apps kids use, and report any suspicious messages or contacts to local police or the FBI.
Practical steps include keeping devices in shared spaces, checking privacy settings and friend lists, and teaching kids never to respond to sexual requests online. For federal guidance, education materials and reporting tools, parents can visit Project Safe Childhood.
