A former GOP staffer and Republican National Committee aide who admitted to trading child pornography involving babies was sentenced Thursday to more than 12-and-a-half years in prison.
Ruben Verastigui, 29, pleaded guilty to charges of having 162 videos and more than 50 images of child pornography on his phone in July 2021.
The Department of Justice reports Verastigui was active in a group of at least 18 members who traded child porn and discussed child sexual abuse. An affidavit submitted in connection with his arrest said Verastigui sought pictures of child rape. Prosecutors said he fantasized about killing children while abusing them.
Verastigui told the group his preference was for babies, saying they were his “absolute favorite,” and solicited another member of the group for videos of babies being raped, according to court documents.
Verastigui was a digital strategist for the RNC in 2017 and 2018, working on social media advertising for political committees backing former President Donald Trump, according to Verastigui’s LinkedIn page. The digital strategist also worked for the Senate Republican Conference and for a nonprofit group called Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. An anti-abortion activist originally from San Antonio, Verastigui spoke at the March for Life in Washington in 2013.