Central Texas man admits enticing a minor child to engage in sexual activity

AMARILLO, Texas – A man from central Texas pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to one count of enticing a minor, and aiding and abetting.

This guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Coleman Police Department, the Santa Anna Police Department, and the Brownwood Police Department.

According to documents filed in the case, while living in Brownwood, Texas, Luis Gerardo Alvarado, 22, met a girl who lived in Coleman County, Texas, by contacting her through a Facebook chat. Between mid-March and April 8, 2013, Alvarado communicated with the girl and attempted to persuade and entice her to have sex with him. Alvarado knew the girl was under 17 years of age.

A sentencing date was not set for Alvarado who is in custody. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy is in charge of the prosecution.

The investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-843-5678.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.