Carlos Arturo Aparicio Hernandez, also known as Raiza Daniela Yasira Aparicio Hernandez, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for online child exploitation and sexual abuse. The 40-year-old Taylorsville resident posed as a minor female on Facebook to communicate with a 14-year-old victim, convincing the teen to send sexually explicit photos and videos. He later extorted additional material from the victim and arranged meetings where illegal sexual activity occurred, which he documented and stored on his electronic devices.
U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow imposed a sentence of 360 months’ imprisonment and ordered Aparicio Hernandez to a lifetime of supervised release. Authorities discovered that Aparicio Hernandez also possessed sexually explicit photographs of other minors.
“Aparicio Hernandez is a danger to the children in our communities and elsewhere,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims-especially child victims, who are the most vulnerable among us. His 30-year sentence is a stern reminder that we will track down, arrest and prosecute child predators.”
West Valley City Police Chief Colleen Jacobs commented, “Protecting our community’s most vulnerable is our highest priority. This sentence sends a clear message: anyone who uses social media to prey on children will be found, stopped, and held accountable.”
Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI added, “This predator’s actions were deliberate, manipulative, and devastating. The FBI will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners to protect children, safeguard our communities, and ensure predators face the strongest consequences possible.”
The case was investigated by both the West Valley City Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating federal, state, and local efforts to identify offenders and rescue victims.
