Hartford Sex Offender Facing Porn Charges Following Investigation In Manchester: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man with prior convictions for child pornography and illegal sexual contact with a minor has been charged in federal court with multiple child exploitation offenses after investigators found hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children on one of his cellphones after an arrest in Manchester, federal authorities announced.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, 38-year-old Abisai Rodriguez is charged in a federal criminal complaint with receipt and distribution of child pornography, as well as possession of child pornography.

Federal prosecutors said Rodriguez was previously convicted in Connecticut state court in December 2010 of first-degree possession of child pornography. In November 2018, he was convicted of illegal sexual contact with a minor and was sentenced in February 2019 to 10 years in prison, suspended after five years, followed by 10 years of probation.

He was released from state custody in January 2023.

Authorities said Manchester Police arrested Rodriguez on March 23 of this year for failing to register as a sex offender. Following that arrest and an probation violation, investigators searched two cellphones and a laptop computer belonging to Rodriguez, prosecutors said.

According to the criminal complaint, one cellphone contained approximately 211 images and 154 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Investigators also allege Rodriguez used encrypted messaging applications to trade and store the material.

If convicted, the charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years. The possession charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years. Prosecutors said the penalties are enhanced because of Rodriguez's prior state convictions.

Rodriguez has remained in federal custody since his arrest on June 11.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force with assistance from the Connecticut Court Support Services Division Adult Probation Services, the Connecticut Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Laboratory, and the Farmington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis L. Beyerlein is prosecuting the case.