INDIANAPOLIS — The man who terrorized Plainfield six years ago was sentenced to 75 years in federal prison Friday.
Buster Hernandez, who is also known as "Brian Kil," pleaded guilty to 41 charges last year. Those charges included threats to kill, kidnap, use bombs and produce child pornography.
High schools in Plainfield and Danville canceled classes and The Shops at Perry Crossing closed in 2015 because of the threats.
Investigators say Hernandez targeted his victims from 2012 through August 3, 2017. They identified hundreds of victims, including five from Indiana.
In addition to "Brian Kil," Hernandez allegedly used 14 other online aliases when he tried to obtain sexually explicit photographs from his young victims. If he didn't get them, he threatened violence.
In previously sealed court documents, attorneys allege Hernandez sexually exploited a girl under the age of 12, "by using her to create visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct" from Sept. 2014 and Jan. 2016 and also used the internet to make threats.
“He’s a dangerous and evil man. He’s a monster and he doesn’t need to be walking the streets," one victim testified.
“I wanted to die. I wanted to escape. I thought that was my only way out," testified another victim.
Before being sentence, he apologized to his victims.
“Reading the texts I can’t believe I did it. It’s awful. I feel awful. I feel terrible,” Hernandez said.
“Today we mark, with quiet satisfaction, that here evil has been met with justice. Conduct like this falls so far outside even the most basic understanding of human decency and compassion that our natural inclination might be to look away from this horrible spectacle,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Childress. “We cannot do so. We must acknowledge that evil such as this exists in our world so that we might give thanks for those brave men and women who give their all to see that it does not prevail and so that we are all reminded to do whatever we must to protect our children.”
The FBI also acknowledged there were surely other victims out there still, and they can now rest easy.
“Mr. Hernandez has been sitting in a jail cell for more than three years since a collective law enforcement effort put an end to his reign of terror, and today’s sentence ensures he will remain behind bars for a very long time, unable to victimize anyone else, ever again,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “The communities of Plainfield and Danville, and those in other states where he victimized young girls, can rest easy knowing the FBI and our partners worked tirelessly and used all our resources to find him and bring this day about.”
After the sentencing, the U.S. Attorney's Office listed a long list of other aliases and usernames Hernandez used to communicate with his victims.
Attorneys said while there are many more victims out there, Hernandez can no longer hurt them. They urged anyone who believes they have been a victim of sextortion by Hernandez or any of the usernames on the newly released list to contact the Indianapolis FBI Office at 317-595-4000, Option 2. Potential victims can also contact the FBI by submitting tips here.
Click here to see the list of aliases and usernames.