TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man from New Port Richey has been sentenced to nearly 25 years in federal prison after he brought a teenage girl to his Florida home from Mexico to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Greg Kehoe said.
Christian Hernandez, 27, pled guilty on July 1, 2025, to the transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity.
Kehoe said Hernandez started sexually abusing the victim in 2019 when she was around 12 years old and they were both in Mexico. Three years later, when the victim was 15, he facilitated her illegal entry into the U.S.
She moved into his New Port Richey residence, where he continued to physically and sexually abuse her. Hernandez forced the teen to work to repay her “debt” to him for bringing her to the U.S., Kehoe said.
This week, a judge sentenced him to 24 years and 6 months in a federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Hernandez will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.
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