HSI arrests Humacao resident on child sexual exploitation charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Humacao resident was arrested Wednesday at his residence for possession and production of child pornography. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Department's (PRPD) Sex Crimes Division in Humacao.
HSI special agents arrested Jean Carlos Rivera-Morales, 26, after an investigation that stemmed from a Jan. 7 referral from PRPD. An HSI investigation revealed that Rivera-Morales engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a 6-year-old minor, and that he recorded one of the sexual acts with his cellular telephone.
"From Fiscal Year 2009 through January 2015, the number of arrests for possession, production and distribution of child pornography, transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct and sexual enticement of a minor has increased by 257 percent compared to the arrests reported for the period of fiscal years 2003 to 2008," said Angel M. Melendez, special agent of HSI San Juan. "HSI aggressively uses its investigative authority to protect our communities from those who seek to sexually exploit children for their perverse gratification and has an obligation to protect those most vulnerable in our society who cannot protect themselves. Working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to use our ample law enforcement authority to seek out and arrest child predators, and stop them from further victimizing children."
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea.
Rivera-Morales had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Velez-Rive Thursday.
In 2011, in response to the need for an island-wide approach to fighting the escalation of predatory crimes against children, HSI San Juan partnered with members of local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as local and state government officials and community leaders, to form the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF).
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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