NORFOLK, Va.–A Virginia Beach, Va., man was sentenced to 60 years in prison for producing child pornography, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Abimael Cardenales, 45, was sentenced June 28 to 60 years in prison in Norfolk federal district court by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. Cardenales previously pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 29.
According to court documents, in October 2011, the Virginia Beach police began an investigation of Cardenales after being contacted by Child Protective Services. The investigation revealed that, in 2010, Cardenales produced child pornography involving two different special needs minors, ages 13 and 15. Cardenales had also been sexually abusing the minors over a period of years.
