HSI arrests former school bus driver on child exploitation charges

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A former school bus driver was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents Thursday in Corozal for production of child pornography.

HSI special agents arrested Harry Rosario-Cosme, 40, at his home in the municipality of Corozal after a preliminary investigation revealed that he attempted to produce sexually explicit images of a 14-year-old girl.

According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 9, HSI received information from the Puerto Rico Police Department in Dorado regarding a complaint filed against Rosario-Cosme. The information indicated that the grandmother of a minor, identified as Jane Doe, found her granddaughter's cellular phone and that after reviewing it, learned that Jane Doe was communicating with an adult later identified as Rosario-Cosme. The criminal complaint also alleges that Rosario-Cosme sent several sexually explicit photos to the minor using WhatsApp, a messaging application for smartphones.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Meconiates is in charge of the prosecution of this case. Rosario-Come had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin Thursday. He was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting his bail hearing set for Oct. 28.

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.