HSI arrests Moca resident on child exploitation charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, working jointly with the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF), arrested a Moca man Tuesday on child exploitation charges.
HSI special agents arrested Angel L. Gonzalez-Acevedo, 50, at his place of residence after receiving information from the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) regarding a cellular phone that allegedly belonged to Gonzalez-Acevedo containing sexually explicit material involving a minor later identified as Jane Doe. The referral led to an HSI investigation that revealed the cellular phone contained several photos and approximately 29 videos depicting child pornography.
The criminal complaint further alleges that some of the videos contained images of Gonzalez-Acevedo engaging in criminal sexual conduct with Jane Doe. According to the charging document, Gonzalez-Acevedo paid Jane Doe $60 to $100 for engaging in sexually explicit conduct with him and for producing sexually explicit images.
Gonzalez-Acevedo had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sylvia Carreño-Coll Wednesday. He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting his bail hearing set for Nov. 10.
"This is a very serious and alarming problem in our society and we're very watchful for this type of individual who damages the mental health of our future generations," said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "HSI is committed to protecting our children and we encourage our society to continue notifying the authorities of any criminal activity in your community, especially that involving children."
In June 2011, the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF) was created by HSI 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 a 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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