Maryland Man Indicted for Cross-Country Sex Abuse Crimes

Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted a Maryland man in court, today, in connection with child sex-abuse crimes.

Hernan Antonio Maradiaga, 36, of Lanham, is charged with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; two counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM); and possession of CSAM.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief George Nader, Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD).

According to the indictment, in 2023, Maradiaga traveled from Maryland to California to engage in a sexual act with Minor Victim 2, who was under 16. Additionally, in 2025, Maradiaga enticed and coerced Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 3 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the sexual acts. Then in September 2026, authorities found that Maradiaga possessed CSAM that depicted minors.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

Maradiaga is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years for producing CSAM, along with a maximum of 20 years, for each count of possessing CSAM.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is 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 Attorney's 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 justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and the PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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