A Vallejo man is facing charges by a federal grand jury after allegedly flying overseas to molest a teenage girl.
79-year-old Balbino Sablad was indicted on Thursday for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and conspiracy, officials said.
According to court documents, Sablad flew to the Philippines in 2019 to meet and sexually abuse a teenage girl he had contacted via Facebook.
Sablad had engaged in multiple sexual chats with the victim prior to his travels, and had also sent her at least $1,800, the Eastern California U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
Before he left, Sablad allegedly discussed his plans to sexually abuse the girl with a co-conspirator.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation, and is a product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence.
Sablad was arrested on July 1 at his home in Vallejo.
If convicted, he will face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.