A man in North Carolina was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. Raul Ayala, 72, pleaded guilty to charges filed against him in April after multiple minor victims had come forward implicating Ayala had molested them.
During investigations of the Fuquay-Varina Police Department, Ayala admitted to sexually assaulting and exploiting his victims even as far back as the early 1970s.
A warrant was obtained by authorities to search Ayala’s home where they seized multiple electronic devices. A minefield of child pornography was located in various areas of his home with one particular briefcase that was spotted in the his attic suspended by a pulley system. The briefcase contained both adult pornography and child sexual abuse materials.
This indicated the suspect had taken much effort to conceal his crimes. According to Law and Crime, the Department of Justice released a statement citing the extent of Ayala’s involvement in the crime.
“The briefcase contained tri-fold advertisements for child sexual abuse videos that included pictures of children engaged in sexual acts with adults. The briefcase also contained numerous nude Polaroid pictures of minor victims dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. Seized digital devices also contained numerous CSAM images and videos”, the statement read.
Agents with the Homeland Security Investigations unit were able to track down one of Ayala’s male minor victims that was seen in a series of Polaroid photographs recovered from his home. The male victim, now aged more than 50 years, confirmed to agents that he was sexually abused as a child by the accused. He recalled how the abuse began when he was just 8 years old.
Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez of HSI’s Charlotte Field Office said: “Working together with our partners in the Fuquay-Varina Police Department and the Hartnett County Sheriff’s Office, these cases can be investigated thoroughly and expeditiously so children can continue to be rescued. There is nothing more meaningful than locating, identifying, and rescuing child sex abuse victims.”
Martinez added that HSI is determined to punish perpetrators and prevent innocent children from being sexually abused.
On top of his 30-year jail sentence, Ayala will be required to complete a post-incarceration supervised release equivalent to a five-year term.
