By Staff Reporter
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published April 7th, 2026
🚨 News Summary
- Defendant: Robert Jonathan De Oliveira Ricci, 36, Brazil
- Sentence: 7 years and 3 months in federal prison
- Charges: Transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material
- Location: Port Canaveral, Florida
- Additional Orders: Must register as a sex offender; smartphone forfeited
ORLANDO, FL — A former cruise ship crewmember has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after authorities discovered child sexual abuse material on his phone while entering the United States.
According to federal officials, Robert Jonathan De Oliveira Ricci, 36, of Brazil, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie Sneed to seven years and three months in prison after pleading guilty in May 2025.
Investigators say Ricci was working aboard an internationally operated cruise ship that arrived at Port Canaveral on March 10, 2025, when a routine border search of his smartphone uncovered disturbing material.
Authorities found at least 83 videos and 184 images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including victims described as infants and toddlers.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ricci has been ordered to register as a sex offender and forfeit the smartphone used in the crimes.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the sentencing, emphasizing ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
⚖️ Part of Nationwide Initiative
Federal officials say the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat child exploitation and abuse.
The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify offenders, protect victims, and pursue justice in cases involving the sexual exploitation of children.
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