Carlos Rivera-Smith, 38, of Reading, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on May 28 before United States District Judge Catherine Henry to four counts of using an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor and attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct. He also pleaded guilty to one count of committing a felony offense as an individual required to register as a sex offender.
Rivera-Smith has been held in federal custody since January 14 after his arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant. He was charged by information last month and waived prosecution by indictment with this plea.
According to court filings and statements presented during the proceedings, Rivera-Smith communicated with four minor children through a social media application. He paid money via cash apps for the production of sexually explicit images at his direction and enticed them to perform sex acts with him. Law enforcement records indicate that these actions occurred multiple times over more than two years beginning in 2022, with the defendant paying the children hundreds of dollars for their participation.
Rivera-Smith is scheduled for sentencing on September 9 and faces a maximum possible term of life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Reading Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Dimmig is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation.
