Shelbyville Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Other Charges

Frankfort, Ky. - A Shelbyville man, Natividad Aguilera Garcia, 40, pleaded guilty on Friday, October 9, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning to receipt of child sexual abuse material, inducing illegal immigration, making false statements to the United States, and presenting false documentation to the United States.

According to his plea agreement, Garcia, a Honduran citizen and legal permanent resident of the United States, met a minor while visiting family in Honduras. The minor reported that, while in Honduras, Garcia courted her. Upon his return to the United States, Garcia received sexually explicit images of the minor. The minor reported, and electronic evidence shows, that Garcia persuaded the minor to illegally enter the United States. Once in the United States, the minor went to a shelter for unaccompanied alien children, overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement ("ORR"), a sub-agency of Health and Human Services. Thereafter, Garcia falsely represented to ORR that he was the minor's uncle, also presenting a false Honduran birth certificate to establish the familial relationship. ORR relied on these falsehoods and decided to place the minor in Garcia's care. Garcia picked the minor up from the Louisville airport. Days after picking up the minor, Garcia's ex-wife reported Garcia's conduct to the shelter, prompting law enforcement's investigation. Garcia's plea agreement does not contain admissions regarding his conduct with the minor after he picked her up from the airport. However, soon after law enforcement contacted Garcia about the minor's whereabouts, Garcia searched the internet for information about how long after intercourse sexual contact can be detected.

Garcia was indicted in March 2024. The court docket indicated several delays associated with Garcia obtaining new counsel.

"This prosecution demonstrates federal law enforcement's commitment to protecting children outside of our borders from conduct that originates within our borders; ensuring the integrity of our borders; and deterring those who would lie to the United States government to gain custody of an alien child for nefarious purposes," said Jason Parman, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

"HSI is committed to protecting vulnerable individuals - including unaccompanied alien children - and holding accountable those who use deception, fraud, and exploitation to victimize others," said HSI Nashville acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Michael Perez. "Working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to investigate these complex cases, support victims, and pursue those who violate the law."

"Today's guilty plea underscores the critical importance of protecting vulnerable children from those who seek to exploit them," said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with Homeland Security Investigations, the Kentucky State Police, and the Shelbyville Police Department. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing those who prey upon minors, holding those who commit such crimes accountable, and safeguarding the integrity of federal programs designed to protect children."

Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dennis M. Fetting, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations-Nashville; Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Bruce W. Gentry, Shelbyville Police Department; jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, Shelbyville Police Department, and Kentucky State Police. The U.S. Attorney's Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Melton and Aubrey Girouard.

Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2027. He faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty years in prison, in addition to a $250,000 fine (if applicable). However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

This case was prosecuted 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 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..

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