Jose Francisco Cardoso Tehovnik, a 23-year-old from Orlando, Florida, was sentenced on Apr. 1 to serve 132 months in prison after being convicted of receipt of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address crimes involving minors and the use of social media for illegal activities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson said that Cardoso Tehovnik began communicating with a 16-year-old minor on social media in February 2024 when he was 21 years old. Between February and April of that year, the minor sent him video and image files depicting herself, which were classified as child pornography.
In late April 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik traveled from Florida to Western New York and rented a hotel room where he met the minor victim in person; they engaged in sexual intercourse on April 27, according to authorities. He continued communicating with the victim until June and again traveled to meet her that month. On June 4, Cardoso Tehovnik picked up the minor from her school with plans to take her back to Florida but was located by law enforcement in New Jersey and arrested.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera; Niagara Falls Police Department led by Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari; and assistance from Beach Haven Police Department under Chief James Markoski.
