Former North Texas elementary principal found guilty of enticing children by posting sex ads on Craigslist for boys

SHERMAN, Texas — A former North Texas elementary school principal was found guilty of child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, Eastern District of Texas.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Frisco (Texas) Police Department.

Oscar Figueroa, 47, from Carrollton, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury July 15, 2015, and charged with coercion and enticing minors.  Figueroa was found guilty April 1 following a four day trial before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.

According to the indictment, on July 7, 2015, law enforcement officers became aware of a Craigslist ad posted by a person identified as Figueroa seeking a young male for sexual activity. An undercover officer posing as a 16-year-old boy contacted Figueroa and began exchanging text messages. Figueroa instructed the undercover officer to meet him at a particular place within the AMC Theatres at Stonebriar Centre.  Frisco police officers arrived at the theatre and discovered Figueroa, who directed an undercover officer to a bathroom for sexual activity.  During the trial, attorneys for the United States introduced Figueroa’s text messages with the undercover agent, his interview with law enforcement, Craigslist ads he posted, and the contents of his cellular phone.

Figueroa was arrested July 10, 2015 and remains in custody.  He faces a minimum of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison at sentencing.  A sentencing date has not been set.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Jay Combs, Eastern District of Texas.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

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-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.