A former Newport News firefighter was sentenced Monday to life in prison for sexually abusing an infant, filming the abuse and distributing the material online.

Alex Tyler Buenaga, a 32-year-old Suffolk resident, was arrested Jan. 24, 2025. after the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a tip from Telegram, an instant messaging app, about a user that was producing and distributing child sexual material.

An undercover agent began communicating over Telegram and Reddit with the user, who they later determined was Buenaga. He bragged about producing videos and sent the agent the material, according to a statement of facts in federal court.

Buenaga began abusing the infant in October 2024 and had recorded the abuse over 90 times, according to a forensic analysis of his electronics. He was also communicating with other users online about the video, according to court records.

Shortly after messaging Buenaga, the agent learned the former firefighter had invited another man to his home to abuse the infant. Ryan Wade Johnston, a 45-year-old man from Suffolk, was arrested with Buenaga, according to the statement of facts.

Buenaga pleaded guilty in March to production of child pornography and coercion of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Prior to his arrest, he had worked as a firefighter and medic for the Newport News Fire Department since 2017.

Johnston pleaded guilty in June to receiving, possessing and transporting child sexual abuse material.

According to a statement of facts, Johnston told prosecutors that he was traveling to Buenaga's home to secure methamphetamines. Prosecutors, however, cited in court records direct messages between Buenaga and Johnston in which Johnston sent images of minor children and discussed child sexual abuse.

Johnston was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

Nori Leybengrub, 757-349-3523, nori.leybengrub@virginiamedia.com
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