Oral Motion by Defendant to Appoint Counsel, heard and granted. Ruben Verastigui es el ex asistente republicano que enfrenta un cargo de pornografa infantil en Washington, D.C. Segn el D epartamento de Polica Metropolitana, Verastigui fue arrestado el 5 de febrero luego de una investigacin de casi un ao. Dates on Trump File reflect when something happens, not when it's first reported. Ruben Verastigui, RNC Senior Graphic Designer. Detention Hearing set for 2/9/2021 at 4:00 pm by telephonic/VTC before Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather. Elsewhere online, video footage exists from 2013 showing Mr. Verastigui speaking at an anti-abortion rally, where he is credited as being the president of the North Vista Colleges Students for Life chapter. CourtListener, From The 27-year-old worked for the RNC in 2017 and 2018, where he worked as a senior designer on social media ads for Trumps re-election campaign, the Trump Make America Great Again Committee and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell and former Assistant U.S. Attorney April Russo, who prosecuted the case. Ruben Verastigui worked for Students for Life from Sept. 5, 2014 to Dec. 2, 2016, following some engagement when he was a student himself. Oops, this content can't be loadedbecause you're having connectivity problems, Stay always informed and up to date with our breaking news alerts, - The Washington Times - Saturday, July 10, 2021. The Daily Beast and The Washington Post obtained court documents on Verastigui's arrest, giving more insight into the accusations. The arrest of Mr. Verastigui has its roots in a probe launched last June by the Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, when its special agents began looking into the online group where Landon was a member. His connection to the GOP was first reported on Twitter by Jared Holt, resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. "Verastigui's release would put the public and children everywhere at-risk," prosecutors said. Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Initiative. Ruben Verastigui is the former Republican aide facing a child pornography charge in Washington, D.C. Ruben Verastigui was arrested on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography on Friday. According to the investigation, Verastigui used the pseudonym "Landon" and the handle name was "@somethingtaken". According to investigators, Verastigui received videos of child abuse as part of an online group that authorities from the US Department of Homeland Security's Child Exploitation Unit dubbed "Application A" in court documents. The 27-year-old worked for the RNC in 2017 and 2018, where he worked as a senior designer on social media ads for Trump's re-election campaign, the Trump Make America Great Again Committee and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Between March 2020 and February 2021, an investigation revealed the suspect distributed, received and possessed images of child pornography. ''Between March 2020 and February 2021, an investigation revealed the suspect distributed, received and possessed images of child pornography," the release states. Sign up to receive the Free Law Project newsletter with tips and announcements. Verastigui pleaded guilty on July 9, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Forbes: At least $7 million in campaign donations went to Trump businesses, Giuliani & Firtash associate sentenced to prison for fraud scheme, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump marry after Rupert Murdoch intervenes, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-former-gop-and-senate-staffer-27-has-been-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges/ar-BB1dsPS5, https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-trump-and-gop-aide-ruben-verastigui-charged-with-child-pornography-offenses, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_Ver%C3%A1stegui, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-091620/, Facebook suspends Donald Trumps account until 2023, Trumps Mar-a-Lago partially shuts down after COVID outbreak, Alex Jones to D.C. crowd: Not everybodys gonna make it, but thats okay, US sanctions Russia for election interference, SolarWinds hack, and Crimea, Comey drops Mogilevich from FBI list, breaking Muellers promise, Donald Trump Jr. wants followers to storm big tech companies next, Donald Trump spends $94,000 on ads condemning U.S. foreign policy, Donald Trump & Roger Stone plot next presidential campaign, U.S. Intelligence reports that foreign agents are trying to hack presidential campaigns, The Supreme Court stops protecting Donald Trumps tax returns, Is Trump getting intelligence briefings? Bond Status of Defendant: Defendant Committed/Commitment Issued; Court Reporter: Sara Wick; Defense Attorney: Brian McDaniel; US Attorney: April Russo; Pretrial Officer: John Copes. Time between 2/19/2021 and 4/22/2021 (62 Days) shall be excluded from calculation under the Speedy Trial Act in the interest of justice X-T. here for reprint permission. Ruben Verastigui, a former Republican National Committee employee, is arrested in Washington, D.C. for his involvement in a child pornography ring. Ruben Verastigui, a former Republican Senate staffer, was arrested on child pornography charges at his home in Washington, DC. 3. He was working for a non-profit group when he was arrested. Ruben Verastigui is a Manager, Communications at CRES Forum based in Washington, District of Columbia. He has been in custody ever since. No portions of this website may be reproduced, retransmitted, copied, or republished without expressed written consent from Shore News Media & Marketing, LLC. Note: It does not appear that Ruben is in any way related to Eduardo Verstegui, a famous anti-abortion advocate named by Trump to serve as a member of the Presidents Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity. The other group member promptly sent Verastigui a video of a baby being raped, to which Verastigui responded enthusiastically. (zpt) (Entered: 04/21/2021), MOTION for Excludable Delayby USA as to RUBEN VERASTIGUI. The Washington Times The details of the allegations against Mr. Verastigui are tragic and shocking, the nonprofit said in a statement to The Post. Ruben Verastigui, a former Republican National Committee employee, is arrested in Washington, D.C. for his involvement in a child pornography ring. Authorities said that he allegedly admitted being part of the child porn ring. According to the governments evidence, from April 2020 through February 2021, Verastigui was active in an online group devoted to trading child pornography and discussing child sexual abuse. Mr. Verastiguis account on Instagram includes recent photos of himself at the White House in December 2020, as well as numerous shots of him in and around the U.S. Capitol in previous years. WASHINGTON Ruben Verastigui, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 151 months in prison on a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. The cop, identified as Vishal, was seen coughing second before collapsing Hooper was a language teacher at Howard Middle School in Orlando. Our objective is to create a timeline of events so thorough that corruption and mafia influence cannot be denied. Sally Montgomery Ruben Aaron Verastigui - Secret Service Agent . WASHINGTON - Ruben Verastigui, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 151 months in prison on a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. Congressional payroll records also showed Verastigui worked as a digital director for the Joint Economic Committee in 2018, Politico reported. Verastigui's name came under the spotlight after agents from Homeland Security Investigations began an operation focusing on a group of at least 18 people, who were trading child pornography online. On Thursday, the Justice Department announced that Ruben Verastigui, a former campaign aide for former President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison for possession of child . Verastigui also worked for the Senate Republican Conference and for a non-profit group called Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. (zpt) (Entered: 02/19/2021), Set/Reset Hearings AND Order on Motion to Continue, Commit Defendant to Custody of Attorney General, ~Util - Set/Reset Hearings AND Detention Hearing AND Order on Motion for Release from Custody AND Order on Motion to Commit Defendant to Custody of Attorney General, Order on Motion for Release from Custody AND ~Util - Set/Reset Hearings AND Order on Motion to Commit Defendant to Custody of Attorney General AND Detention Hearing, Order on Motion for Release from Custody AND Order on Motion to Commit Defendant to Custody of Attorney General AND ~Util - Set/Reset Hearings AND Detention Hearing, ~Util - Set/Reset Hearings AND Order on Motion for Release from Custody AND Detention Hearing AND Order on Motion to Commit Defendant to Custody of Attorney General, Initial Appearance AND ~Util - Add and Terminate Attorneys AND Order on Motion for Temporary Detention AND Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel, ~Util - Add and Terminate Attorneys AND Initial Appearance AND Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel AND Order on Motion for Temporary Detention, Initial Appearance AND Order on Motion for Temporary Detention AND ~Util - Add and Terminate Attorneys AND Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel, ~Util - Add and Terminate Attorneys AND Order on Motion to Appoint Counsel AND Initial Appearance AND Order on Motion for Temporary Detention, Unopposed MOTION for Protective Order by USA as to RUBEN VERASTIGUI. When reached for comment by The Post, a spokesperson for the Senate Republican Conference said: "We have just learned about this investigation and arrest. This case was 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. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. We can sometimes provide need-based exceptions to these rules. Verastigui was arrested on Feb. 5, 2021. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-former-gop-and-senate-staffer-27-has-been-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges/ar-BB1dsPS5https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-trump-and-gop-aide-ruben-verastigui-charged-with-child-pornography-offenseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_Ver%C3%A1steguihttps://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-091620/. Defendant present by video. A post shared by Ruben Aaron Verastigui (@rubenaaronvera). View the profiles of people named Ruben Verastegui. He is no longer employed by the organization and we are prepared to fully cooperate with law enforcement requests in this matter to any extent needed.. Sign up for notifications from Insider! View the profiles of people named Ruben Aaron Verastigui. According to the governments evidence, from April 2020 through February 2021, Verastigui was active in an online group devoted to trading child pornography and discussing child sexual abuse. Verastigui indicated his preference for babies, saying they were his absolute favorite, and solicited another group member for videos of babies being raped. The transnational crime syndicate operating within the United States did not begin with Donald Trump and wont end with him, either. U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama appointee, accepted the plea but deferred on deciding whether to impose a sentence of roughly 12-to-15 years of incarceration as proposed by both parties. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Who is Ethan Hooper? He left the Republican Conference in July of . "We have just learned about this investigation and arrest. A former GOP Senate staffer has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after pleading guilty in a case involving child pornography. His sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Oct. 12. The other group member then sent Verastigui numerous other videos of child pornography. (Ruben Verastigui, Image credit: Instagram) On February 5, multiple law enforcement agencies in Washington D.C., including the Metropolitan Police Department's Youth and Family Services Division, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, announced that they had joined together to arrest 27 . We've received your submission. Ruben A. Verastigui admitted to having 152 videos and 50 images of child porn. Verastigui pleaded guilty on July 9, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Verastigui also prepared social media for Donald . Ruben A. Verastigui, 27, had previously worked for the Senate Republican Conference as a digital strategist and until his arrest worked for a center-right energy group, Citizens For Responsible. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Ruben Verastigui, 27, of Northeast, DC,. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. He was at the White House as recently as December and continued working for right-wing organizations until his arrest. (See Docket Entry 8 to view document). Verastigui's LinkedIn page shows a long history of working for Republicans and conservative causes. Signed by Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather on 2/18/2021. He was sentenced by the Honorable Amit P. Mehta. Latest from Department of Justice Press Releases, Rochester Man Who Fled Police Pleads Guilty To Gun Charge, Man Who Produced Child Pornography Going To Prison For 26 Years, Getzville Man Going To Prison For Threatening To Kill Police Officers, Kenmore Man Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Charge, Statement From U.S. Attorney Jason M. 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