Miami Jury Convicts Pennsylvania Man of Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

MIAMI - A Pennsylvania man was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 11 of attempting to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a minor victim overseas.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Earl Richard Clouser, 55, of Burnham, Pennsylvania, engaged in months-long online communications with a 15-year-old victim in Cuba. Despite knowing her age, Clouser repeatedly solicited sexually explicit videos and directed her to produce CSAM, often in exchange for electronic payments he sent to her.

"This defendant targeted a 15-year-old child, directed her to create sexually explicit material, and then traveled overseas to exploit her in person," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. "The fact that the victim lived in another country did not put her beyond the protection of U.S. law. If you use the internet or international travel to exploit a child, we will find you, prosecute you, and seek the full measure of federal punishment."

In September 2025, Clouser traveled from the U.S. to Havana, Cuba, to meet the victim for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Prior to the trip, the victim provided Clouser with identification confirming she was underage. Nevertheless, Clouser arranged for the victim to meet him in Havana, where she stayed overnight with him at his rental apartment.

After returning to the U.S. through Miami International Airport on Sept. 19, 2025, Clouser was referred for secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During the inspection, officers discovered CSAM and communications between Clouser and the victim on three electronic devices in his possession, each containing sexually explicit material depicting the victim. Clouser was arrested.

After a two-day trial, the jury convicted Clouser of attempted production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison with a mandatory minimum of 15 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.

HSI Miami investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Hannah and Anthony Reynolds tried the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.projectsafechildhood.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., under case number 25-cr-20444.

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