Florida Coach Sentenced to 60 Years for Child Porn Production

Fort Myers federal judge hands down 60-year sentence to Punta Gorda man for child exploitation crimes.

Dagoberto Miguel Pena, a 37-year-old youth coach from Punta Gorda, Florida, received a 60-year federal prison sentence on May 5, 2026, from U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell in the Middle District of Florida. Pena pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026, to charges of producing, receiving, possessing, and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, per the U.S. Department of Justice press release.

The case involves Pena's direct actions in producing child sexual abuse materials, alongside receiving and possessing such content. Federal authorities identified Pena through investigative efforts, though the release specifies no exact number of victims or images.

The offenses fall under federal child exploitation statutes, which target individuals involved in the creation and distribution of materials depicting minors under 18 in sexually explicit conduct. Charlotte County, where Pena coached, serves a population of about 200,000 residents, including families with children in youth sports programs, per U.S. Census Bureau data on county demographics.

Prior to sentencing, Pena remained in custody following his guilty plea in January 2026. The new sentence imposes 60 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, and requires Pena to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. These terms took effect immediately upon pronouncement by Judge Chappell on May 5, 2026.

The sentencing activates several operational requirements: Pena must comply with sex offender registration in any community where he resides, works, or studies after release, per federal guidelines under 18 U.S.C. § 2250. Federal probation officers will monitor his activities for life, including restrictions on internet use and contact with minors.

The case concludes the prosecution phase, shifting oversight to the Bureau of Prisons for incarceration and later to probation services. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe's announcement signals completion of this enforcement action in the Middle District of Florida.

The guilty plea and sentencing follow Pena's arrest, part of ongoing federal efforts to combat child exploitation. The U.S. Department of Justice has pursued similar cases nationwide, with over 2,000 child pornography convictions in fiscal year 2025, per the department's annual report on Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in 2006 to coordinate federal, state, and local responses to child exploitation crimes.