Carlos Inesti, a 29-year-old resident of West Haven, has been arrested on federal charges related to child exploitation. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI.
According to court documents and statements, the investigation began in April 2025 when an individual in Utah was arrested for possession of child pornography. Analysis of a seized cell phone revealed videos involving Inesti engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a toddler-aged girl. It was found that Inesti recorded these videos and shared them via the Telegram application.
Inesti appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and was released on a $100,000 bond into home detention with location monitoring. He is prohibited from accessing the internet and having any contact with minors.
The complaint against Inesti includes charges of sexual exploitation of children, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Additionally, he faces charges for distribution of child pornography, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan emphasized that “a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.” He noted that “charges are only allegations,” and reminded that “a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The investigation involves the FBI’s New Haven and Salt Lake City Field Offices, with assistance from the West Haven Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood Initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc or report cases at www.cybertipline.com.
