Puerto Rico Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Child Exploitation Following FBI Arrest

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 12, 2026, FBI special agents arrested Jonathan David Mercado Valladares, a 29-year-old resident of Ponce, on federal criminal charges involving child exploitation, Acting United States Attorney Héctor Ramírez Carbó announced.

Court filings reveal that from approximately February 2023 through February 2026, Mercado Valladares used applications on his cellular device to photograph minors, including prepubescent children, and produced images depicting them engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, between March and July 2026, he possessed images and videos of child pornography on internet-enabled electronic devices, including content involving minors under the age of 12.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez Carbó emphasized the gravity of the allegations, stating, “The allegations in this case involve the sexual exploitation of children, conduct that inflicts profound and lasting harm on its victims. Protecting children is one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice, and we will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify offenders, rescue victims, and seek accountability under federal law.” He also commended the FBI for its thorough investigative efforts.

Carlos R. Goris, FBI San Juan Special Agent in Charge, underscored the agency’s commitment to combating child exploitation, declaring, “The exploitation of children will not be tolerated. Criminals who use emerging technologies to victimize minors are not beyond the reach of law enforcement. The FBI will continue to pursue those who target the most vulnerable and hold them accountable. If you exploit minors, this is a message for you: expect to be identified, arrested, and prosecuted. Justice will find you.”

Mercado Valladares faces multiple charges with severe penalties. If convicted, he could receive:

2. Production of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children: 15 to 30 years imprisonment;

All sentences would be followed by supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI continues to investigate the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders who exploit children via the internet and to identify and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is an allegation, and Mercado Valladares is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Official reference: View the original document.