Worcester Child Predator Pleads Guilty To Sexually Exploiting Children

Monday, August 4, 2025, 8:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BOSTON, MA.- A 28-year-old Worcester, Massachusetts, man will be facing up to 110 years in federal prison when he is sentenced later this year, after pleading guilty last Thursday, to sexually exploiting three children and possessing digital images and video files depicting child pornography.

     According to U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, on Thursday, August 31, 2025, Antonio Merced, 28, of Worcester, Massachusetts, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.

Merced Is Scheduled To Be Sentenced In November

     Following entering his guilty plea last Thursday, Judge Guzman accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for November 21, 2025. At that time, Merced faces on each of the counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a mandatory minimum of fifteen years and up to 30 years in federal prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. On the count of possession of pornography, Merced faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

     At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and Merced’s prior criminal history.

According To Court Documents

     According to the charging information and statements provided to the District Court, during a child sex crimes investigation, law investigators learned that in July 2024, Merced exposed two children to pornography and sex toys, and during the ensuing investigation, Investigators uncovered multiple sexually explicit videos that Merced produced. 

     During his plea allocution last Thursday, Merced admitted to using three children to create sexually explicit videos on three dates in 2023 and 2024.

     Merced was initially arrested in September 2024 and was subsequently charged in Worcester District Court with three counts of dissemination of obscene material to a minor, and one count each of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, dissemination of child sexual abuse material, intimidation, enticing a child under 16, and two counts of aggravated rape of a child. Merced has remained in custody since his September 2024 arrest.

     U.S. Attorney Foley commended the investigative work of the Worcester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to Merced’s apprehension and Thursday’s federal guilty plea.