Repeat Sexual Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

MINNEAPOLIS - Nicholas Richard Lugo, 25, was sentenced today to 180 months imprisonment followed by 15 years' supervised release for the Distribution of Child Pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

"A 15-year sentence cannot undo the harm Lugo repeatedly inflicted on children, but it delivers justice and protection," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "We are prosecuting several cases like this in federal court today, and every one of them is heartbreaking. Minnesota's children deserve protection, and those who prey on them will face federal consequences."

In 2021, Lugo was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He received a stayed sentence of 144 months' imprisonment, 180 days in the workhouse, and five years of predatory offender supervision. In October 2024, while Lugo was on supervision, he obtained a cell phone prohibited by the terms of his release. He used that unauthorized cell phone to download a social media application and receive and distribute images and videos of child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse material, depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The identified images and videos are of real children-real children experienced this abuse, which the defendant downloaded, consumed, and shared for his gratification.

Lugo was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before District Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan. When handing down the sentence Judge Bryan noted that this crime is "one of the more egregious crimes we have in our society."

The U.S. Attorney's Office recognizes the suffering of the victims in this case and in Lugo's prior sexual abuse case. No child should experience sexual violence and offenders must be held accountable.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Chaska Police Department and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.