U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon issued an order Wednesday detaining Nicolas Mena, 34, of St. Croix, who was arrested Friday on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
Mena made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cannon after his arrest Friday, and had his detention hearing on Monday.
If convicted of receipt of child pornography, Mena faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possession of child pornography, Mena faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami. S. Badawy.