A North Park man who pleaded guilty to transporting sexually explicit images of a 16-year-old Oklahoma girl across state lines was sentenced Monday, March 25 to 10 years in federal prison.

Additionally, Ramsey Manuel Cervantes, now 24, must register as a sex offender for life with law enforcement in whatever community he lives upon his release.

A federal charge of kidnapping the girl was dismissed against him in Aug. 2023, after he pleaded guilty to transporting the electronic images of sexual activity he had with the minor across state lines.

The girl’s father reported her as a runaway in June 2022. Initial reports said she was kept intoxicated during the journey to California. Cervantes had visited her three to four times before and met her father in Oklahoma, according to court records.

Cervantes’ attorney, Ally Keegan, told U.S. District Court Judge Linda Lopez on Monday the victim did have access to Cervantes’ cellphone during the trip and he even called her on the phone. She did not call her father until several days after she arrived in San Diego.

Wearing an orange jump suit while seated with his attorneys, Cervantes read a letter of apology to the judge, saying “I have had plenty of time to reflect on what I have done.”

“I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused. There is no excuse for what I did,” said Cervantes. “I should never have been in a relationship with (a minor).”

Noting his parents were in the audience, Cervantes began to weep, saying, “I am ashamed of how selfish I was. I would apologize to her and her father.”

“It was the first time I experienced romantic happiness. I pray she is able to forgive me one day,” said Cervantes. “I intend to become a respectful member of society one day.”

Cervantes has been incarcerated at the Metropolitan Correctional Center for 21 months and court records show he worked six days a week in the prison kitchen for 40 cents an hour. Inmates do not have to work, but some inmates do to keep busy.

He took drug and alcohol courses and a 12-week substance abuse course while in custody. He also completed a 10-week anger management course, records show. The prosecutor specifically mentioned this active work Cervantes did as an inmate, which is unusual.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Griffith recommended the 10-year sentence Cervantes received while the defense urged a 5-year sentence.

The maximum sentence for transportation of a minor’s images is 20 years, which the prosecutor said was “not appropriate.” That 20-year term is the same maximum sentence he faced had prosecutors elected to go forward on the kidnapping charge.

The girl was Cervantes’ first girlfriend and he met her online, according to defense papers his attorneys filed with the court. He graduated from UCSD in 2022 and worked as a data analyst.