Westminster man charged with posing as a boy on Facebook to solicit nude pics from young girls

Case # 18CF0606

Date: March 6, 2018

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR LEWD ACTS ON CHILDREN AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AFTER POSING AS TEEN BOY AND SOLICITING NUDE IMAGES OF YOUNG GIRLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for lewd acts on children and possession of child pornography after posing as a teen boy and soliciting nude images of young girls on social media.

Defendant: Eddie John Bermudez, 40, Westminster

Charged on Feb. 28, 2018, with the following felony counts:

• (21) Lewd act with a minor under 14
• (3) Lewd act upon a child
• Possession and control of child pornography
• Sentencing Enhancements
  • Substantial sexual conduct with a child
  • Multiple victims

Maximum Sentence: 244 years and four months to life in state prison

Arraignment on March 7, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

• Between April 2014, and November 2016, Bermudez is accused of operating a Facebook account where he posed as a 16-year-old boy and solicited nude images from at least 13 girls under 14 years old.
• Bermudez is accused of persuading the victims to engage in lewd acts involving substantial sexual conduct and send him photographs and videos of the acts.
• On Jan. 31, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations, Orange County (HSI) was contacted by the Sioux Falls Police Department in South Dakota because their investigation led to an IP address for the defendant in Westminster.
• HSI investigated this case and obtained dozens of explicit social media messages Bermudez is accused of sending to children through the alias social media account.
• The defendant was charged on Feb. 28, 2018, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Bermudez turned himself in to HSI on March 5, 2018.

“Keeping children safe from sexual exploitation is a top priority for HSI,” said Mark Zito, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for HSI Orange County. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who commit these types of crimes to ensure they feel the full weight of the law.”

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi, Sexual Assault Unit

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Contact:

• Lori K. Haley, Western Region Communications Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 949-360-3096
• Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Orange County District Attorney, 714-347-8408
• Michelle Van Der Linden, Spokesperson, Orange County District Attorney, 714-347-8405