HSI arrests 25-year-old Villalba man for transporting minor for sex
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Villalba resident was arrested Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Department's (PRPD) Sex Crime Division, for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct and production of child pornography.
HSI special agents arrested Edwin J. Santiago-Rivera, 25, a member of the Puerto Rico National Guard, at his residence in the municipality of Villalba after receiving information from the PRPD Sex Crimes Division in Ponce regarding the alleged transportation by Santiago-Rivera of a 14-year-old girl, identified as Jane Doe, with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, Santiago-Rivera transported Jane Doe to a motel and coerced her into having sex with him. The charging document also alleges that Santiago-Rivera took explicit photographs of Jane Doe and a few days later forwarded them to another individual via an instant messaging application identified as "kik".
"HSI aggressively uses its investigative authorities to protect our communities from those who seek to sexually exploit children for their perverse gratification," said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "We have an obligation to protect those most vulnerable in our society who cannot protect themselves. HSI special agents, working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners, will continue to use our ample law enforcement authorities to seek out and arrest child predators, and stop them from further victimizing children."
Assistant United States Attorney Marshal Morgan is in charge of the prosecution of this case. Santiago-Rivera had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll Wednesday. He was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting the detention hearing set for Dec. 8.
In June 2011, the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF) was created by HIS San Juan to respond to the need for an island-wide approach to fighting the escalating number of predatory crimes against children. The task force is a partnership between HSI San Juan and members of local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as local and state government officials and community leaders.
Through PRCACTF, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work together with local and state government agencies to effectively pool their resources to jointly investigate all crimes against children in Puerto Rico. Through the task force, law enforcement officers are encouraged to share evidence, ideas, and investigative and forensic tools to ensure the most successful prosecutions possible. As such, PRCACTF allows law enforcement to speak with one unified voice in defense of the children of Puerto Rico.
The investigation is part of 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 10,000 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 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.
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. 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.
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.
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