CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea– A Soldier who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child and producing and possessing child pornography was sentenced to 11 years in prison during a general court-martial Aug. 18 at the Camp Humphreys courtroom.
Spc. Jaime J. Laureano, 25, a unit supply specialist assigned to the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, was also sentenced by the military judge to a reduction in rank to E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonorable discharge from the Army.
In August 2022 when Laureano was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he met the 13-year-old victim in a group chat on the online platform Discord. Eventually, their conversations became private, first on the video game Minecraft, and then by text messaging once Laureano obtained her cell phone number.
In order to keep their conversations secret, he purchased a cell phone for her and paid the monthly bill, giving Laureano a private and direct line of communication with the victim.
Even after learning her age, Laureano continued communication and pursued an inappropriate relationship. He subsequently pressured the victim to send explicit photographs and videos, continuing to solicit material despite her stated discomfort.
In October 2023, Laureano traveled across state lines to meet the victim in person while she was visiting a relative in Robertsdale, Alabama. While the homeowner slept, Laureano entered the residence without permission, engaged in sexual acts with the victim, and recorded the encounters on his mobile phone.
In October 2024, school administrators were alerted by students that the victim was transmitting explicit imagery. The principal immediately notified the school resource officer, and law enforcement was notified.
The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation. A digital forensic examination of the victim’s phone linked the communication to Laureano through phone records, multimedia evidence, and geolocation data connecting him to military installations.
In November 2024, the case was transferred to the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division when Laureano was stationed at Camp Humphreys.
A forensic analysis conducted by Army CID confirmed messages indicating Laureano was fully aware of the victim’s age—including messages from the victim noting she was 15 while he was 24—and her discomfort with providing explicit material.
“This case is a reminder that justice is not measured only by how quickly it arrives, but by how relentlessly it is pursued. It took a victim’s courage, the persistence of local law enforcement and Army CID, and a prosecution team that refused to let time, distance, or difficulty stand in the way of accountability,” said Capt. Kristofher Beralo, prosecutor, Eighth Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.
“This sentencing highlights the power and reach of our law enforcement partnerships,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio, Army CID’s Asia-Pacific Field Office. “Together, we remain steadfast in our shared mission to protect the vulnerable and pursue anyone who would abuse or exploit children, no matter where they are in the world.”
Laureano is currently confined at the U.S. Army Regional Correctional Facility – Korea awaiting transfer to a military corrections facility in the United States. Upon release, he will be subject to mandatory federal and state sex offender registration requirements.
The case was investigated by Army CID’s Asia-Pacific Field Office, Camp Humphreys Resident Unit, and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Beralo and 1st Lt. Dmitry Badrunov, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 2nd Infantry Division.
About the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel: The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel is composed of specially trained military lawyers, legal professionals and support staff responsible for the expert prosecution of murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping and other serious criminal offenses. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., OSTC has eight regional headquarters that oversee 28 field offices located worldwide, including locations in Europe and Korea. For more information visit http://www.army.mil/ostc.
To Report a Crime: If you would like to report a crime, have information about a crime, or have been the subject or survivor of a crime, you can submit anonymous tips to Army CID at http://www.p3tips.com/armycid.
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.31.2026 17:24 |
| Story ID: | 573622 |
| Location: | CAMP HUMPHREYS, KR |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldier sentenced to 11 years in prison during trial in Korea for child pornography, sexual abuse, by Michelle McCaskill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
