Candido Lopez-Lebron arrested, indicted for child exploitation and sex trafficking children
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Candido Lopez-Lebron, 59, with sex trafficking of children. The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service led the investigation with help from the Department of Homeland Security.
According to court documents, from November 2022 to December 2023, Lopez-Lebron recruited, enticed, harbored and transported a girl between the ages of 11 and 12 for commercial sex. The defendant used a cellphone and an internet instant messaging service to persuade, induce, entice and coerce the girl to engage in sexual activity.
Lopez-Lebron is also charged with production and receipt of child sexual abuse material.
“HSI is committed to our children. As a society, we need to get together to protect our children; as an agency, we won’t stop until every individual that commits a crime against our most vulnerable is prosecuted,” said HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos. “Sex trafficking of children is a horrific form of human trafficking that requires everyone’s attention. During Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we make a call to ‘see something, say something,’ encouraging individuals to report any suspicious activities. By raising awareness and staying vigilant, we can play a vital role in identifying and preventing these crimes.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Alvarez-Lora of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.
“Those who engage in child exploitation, including the sex trafficking of children and possession of child sexual abuse material, will be held accountable for their criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow. “I commend the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to ensure that these defendants are held accountable for their crimes.”
“The indictment of Candido Lopez-Lebron for child sex trafficking is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our society. This joint effort between the Coast Guard Investigative Service and our federal, state and local partners underscores our determination and commitment to investigating criminal acts that extend beyond the waterline,” said Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot. “We are dedicated to serving and safeguarding this community by ensuring the safety and well-being of our children.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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