Child Sex Trafficker And Producer Of Videos Of Child Sex Abuse Sentenced To 55 Years In Federal Prison

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Mark Manuel Angeles Marino (27, Jacksonville) to 55 years in federal prison for child sex trafficking and the production, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Marino serve a life term of supervised release and pay $163,500 to victims of his offenses. Marino had been found guilty after a bench trial on November 16, 2021.

According to court documents, in March 2019, Marino began communicating with a particular email user in response to an advertisement on the dark web offering child sexual abuse material for sale. Marino responded to the ad and specifically inquired about an 11-year-old girl, requesting to see a video of the sexual assault of that child. After asking several times for depictions of specific sexual abuse of the child, the supplier requested Marino “go elsewhere.” Six months later, Marino contacted the individual again, requesting a specific video of the rape of a child wearing a diaper. The next month, Marino sent a message requesting a video of the sexual assault of a 9-year-old and requested the child’s face not be covered as he wanted to see the child’s reaction while the assault took place. On October 23, 2019, Marino sent $172.09 in bitcoin to the supplier, and the following day he received a 2-minute and 34-second video of a young child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The next day, Marino requested a 30-minute video of a child being raped by an adult and sent the supplier $909.07 in bitcoin in payment for the video. Marino continued to request the 30-minute video, but complained, in a later interview with law enforcement, that he only received a 4-minute video in exchange for the payment. Marino admitted to using bitcoin to pay for child sexual abuse material.

During the execution of a search warrant, agents seized Marino’s electronic devices and discovered thousands of files of child sexual abuse material. Further, the investigation revealed that Marino had produced child sex abuse files of a 12-year-old child known to him, using threats and coercion.

“Child predators feel they can target and victimize children and remain hidden behind the anonymity of the Dark Web,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “HSI special agents in Jacksonville, New York, and the Philippines, utilizing cutting-edge techniques, ensured that this predator was identified and held accountable for his crimes.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.