Millbrae Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Purchasing and Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

OAKLAND - Gianbernardo Florendo was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material ("CSAM"). U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson handed down the sentence.

Florendo, 36, of Millbrae, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 19, 2024. Florendo pleaded guilty on June 26, 2026, to Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b), and Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). According to the plea agreement, between at least March 2022 through at least August 2023, Florendo used the online application Telegram to receive CSAM images and videos. He sent payments via PayPal to foreign sellers of CSAM to gain access to groups and chats on Telegram containing CSAM. There were hundreds of CSAM videos and images on Florendo's phone and in his Telegram chats. Florendo engaged in sexualized chats with others while pretending to be a minor.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott R. Schelble made the announcement. In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivana Djak is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.