A Suffolk man pleaded guilty March 25 to production of child sexual abuse material and coercion of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Alex Tyler Buenaga, 32, a former Newport News firefighter, admitted to offenses described in court documents as beginning in October 2024. The release says Buenaga sexually assaulted a three-month-old infant, filmed the abuse, and distributed the resulting material online.
Court documents cited in the release say he recorded himself abusing the infant more than 90 times and, on at least one occasion, blowing methamphetamine smoke in the infant’s face.
The release says Buenaga invited others, including Ryan Wade Johnston, 45, of Virginia Beach, to his residence to participate in the sexual abuse and smoke methamphetamine.
Agents with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Buenaga and Johnston on Jan. 24, 2025, after receiving an emergency tip that a user of the Telegram instant messaging application was producing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Investigators located Buenaga’s residence and arrested the men before they could inflict additional abuse on the infant.
Buenaga is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 22 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life plus 60 years in prison.
Johnston is charged with production, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material, as well as coercion and enticement of a minor, and his bench trial is scheduled for June 15.
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