Two French nationals, Jean-Luc Aschbacher and Youness Arson, were central figures in a large-scale child exploitation network that operated across Spain, with Tarragona’s court delivering a sentence of 240 years in prison for Aschbacher and 19 years for Arson. The ruling brings to a close more than seven years of legal proceedings that began with the Mossos d’Esquadra arresting the pair in June 2015. The court concluded that Aschbacher’s production company, Aschom SL, hid a disturbing operation that recorded and distributed sexually explicit material involving minors from Barcelona and Tortosa. In total, more than one million images and over 300 videos were produced, distributed to pedophiles worldwide. The capture of these two led to the dismantling of a network that included seven other individuals who sexually exploited minors, with victims drawn from 103 Spanish and Moroccan youths; content was purchased by men from 45 different countries.
The sentencing details were reported by EL PERIÓDICO, which belongs to the same media group. The court documents show that Aschbacher faced preventive detention measures, and after August 25, 2022, a formal release from preventive prison had been considered. This rapid turn of events resulted in Aschbacher’s release pending a court order, followed by a renewed arrest after his precautionary release led to public outrage. Arson, who had appeared briefly in the proceedings, was taken back into custody after the sentence was handed down and faced renewed detention. The public outcry was intensified by the fact that both perpetrators had previously escaped prosecution in 2019 and briefly appeared at the initial sessions before fleeing. Several other individuals tied to the case, including Jose Cardona Serrat, Fernando Aguilera Garrido, Miguel Aviles Fernandez, and Martin Rafael Chanza Almudever, received significant prison terms ranging from 20 to 132 years; a seventh member, Youness Naciri, who had begun as a victim but joined the operation, was identified as part of the group, though his name was not publicly released. This individual reportedly fled during the first trial and remains the only participant not named publicly. (Source: EL PERIÓDICO)
Following the Mossos’ pursuit of Aschbacher and Arson, a coordinated effort with authorities in France led to their capture in the southern region of France in May 2021. Investigators from Catalonia contributed crucial information that helped locate the suspects. A number of victims—estimates indicate well over a hundred—were able to come forward, contributing testimonies that informed the court’s final decision. The formal sentence was issued on August 25, marking a definitive judicial conclusion to the case, though the impact on victims continues to be measured in years of recovery and support needs. (Source: Catalan and Spanish authorities)
Proven facts
The Tarragona Court found Aschbacher guilty of preying on vulnerable minors aged 11 to 16, many of whom were foreigners protected by the Generalitat. The crimes included sexual abuse, recording, and distribution of abuse material to pedophiles around the world. The court imposed a total of 240 years in prison and ordered compensation of 300,000 euros to 18 identified victims managed through the Directorate General for the Attention of Children and Adolescents (DGAIA) and the Mossos d’Esquadra. The court noted that many more victims existed beyond those located and testified, highlighting that the scope extended beyond the borders of Spain. The network’s activities included travel to multiple countries with the aim of exploiting minors, including locations in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Tunisia, Singapore, Bali, Java, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Kenya, among others. (Source: Tarragona Court records)
Arson, who aided with the production and distribution, did not directly abuse the 18 identified victims associated with this case but was found guilty of recruiting minors, producing and distributing sexual content, and participating in a criminal organization led by Aschbacher. He received a 19-year prison sentence. The court’s finding framed the group as a criminal enterprise tied to the production company Aschom SL, with Aschbacher and his associates linked to operations centered on Basque and Catalan regions, including a home-studio in Barcelona’s Poble-sec district on Tapioles Street. The production activity reportedly shifted away from gay pornography between 2002 and 2011 when Aschbacher relocated to Tortosa, where the criminal activity continued and expanded with the onset of the internet, enabling broader distribution of illicit material. Victims included minors from various backgrounds and nationalities, and many were coerced or exploited through manipulation that exploited their circumstances. (Source: Court findings)
The testimony and records reveal a disturbing pattern of control, coercion, and exploitation, with many victims experiencing long-term psychological effects. Some survivors report lingering anger, shame, fear, and ongoing difficulty in rebuilding trust and safety. Others recount the lasting impact on their families upon discovering that their experiences appeared in videos or images circulated for years. Recovery paths vary—some individuals manage to move forward, while others struggle with delinquent or self-harming behaviors. The case underscores the profound harm caused by such networks and highlights the need for continued support and monitoring to aid survivors on the road to healing. (Source: Victim testimonies and counselor reports)