Maryland man indicted after trip to California tied to child sex abuse crimes

MARYLAND (WBFF) — A Maryland man was indicted Thursday after traveling to California to commit child sex abuse crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland.

Officials said Hernan Antonio Maradiaga, 36, of Lanham, was charged with traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

In 2023, Maradiaga traveled to California to engage in sexual acts with a minor who was under 16, officials reported.

In 2025, Maradiaga reportedly enticed and coerced two other minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of sexual acts.

Then, in September of 2026, the indictment also said that authorities found that Maradiaga possessed child sexual abuse material that depicted minors.

Maradiaga is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Maradiaga also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years for producing child sexual abuse material, along with a maximum of 20 years for each count of possessing child sexual abuse material, according to authorities.