Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Octavio Nogueira Pessoa (31, Largo) with three counts of production, one count of distribution, one count of receipt, and one count of possession of child sex abuse material. If convicted, Pessoa faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each possession count, and up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts. Pessoa has been ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in open court, in December 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Pessoa’s residence after receiving a tip related to child sexual abuse material. During the search, law enforcement discovered that Pessoa was in a romantic relationship with his adult cousin who lived in Brazil. As part of that relationship, the couple openly discussed sexually abusing children in their family and recording those acts. On occasion, Pessoa directed his cousin to sexually abuse children and record the explicit conduct, including conduct involving an 8-year-old victim. In addition to these conversations, during the search warrant, law enforcement discovered thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Pessoa’s devices.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Largo Police Department and the Brazilian Department of Federal Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
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.