SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — A 36-year-old Millbrae man was sentenced to five years in federal prison Friday for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material, according to federal prosecutors.
Gianbernardo Florendo used the messaging app Telegram between at least March 2022 and August 2023 to obtain images and videos from foreign sellers, paying for access to groups and chats containing the material, according to his plea agreement.
Investigators found hundreds of images and videos on Florendo's phone and in his Telegram chats. Prosecutors also said he engaged in sexualized conversations with others while pretending to be a minor.
Florendo pleaded guilty in June to receiving and possessing child pornography. He was indicted in December 2024.
U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson sentenced Florendo on Friday to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California.
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