HSI arrests Caguas resident for possession of child pornography
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Caguas resident was arrested for possessing child pornography Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force officers.
Ralph Camacho-Rios, 66, was arrested at his place of residence after an HSI investigation revealed he possessed child pornography on his home computer. The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identified that an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Puerto Rico had downloaded videos and pictures depicting child pornography. HSI special agents determined that IP address was assigned to Camacho-Rios’ computer.
On Sept. 3, HSI special agents executed a federal search warrant at the Camacho-Rios residence in Caguas and seized his computer. A preliminary forensic examination of the computer revealed the presence of approximately 235 images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
"The arrest of this man for possession of child pornography further demonstrates there are people who still think they can hide behind the apparent anonymity of the Internet," said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "You should not have any expectation of privacy when using the Internet. If you use it for the wrong reasons, like this man did, you will end up in prison."
Camacho-Rios faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Diaz.
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.
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