HSI arrests Toa Alta resident for transporting minor for sex

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A man who allegedly transported a 9-year-old boy with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct was arrested Saturday in Dorado by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Randy Charriez-Rolon, 29, of Toa Alta, was arrested by HSI special agents at his place of work in Dorado after a preliminary investigation revealed that he allegedly transported a minor, identified as John Doe, to a park near a school in Toa Alta to engage in criminal sexual activity.

"Anyone who targets children for sexual exploitation should also consider themselves a target by HSI and by our law enforcement partners," said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "This case reveals the disturbing truth that some adults will go to great lengths to sexually exploit minors. The arrest of this predator shows HSI’s commitment to apprehending and presenting for prosecution cases that victimize our children. ICE will continue working with federal, state and local agencies to ensure that those who try to hurt children are brought to justice."

According to the criminal complaint, HSI agents received information March 6 from the Puerto Rico Police Department’s (PRPD) Sex Crimes Division in Bayamon into allegations against Charriez-Rolon accusing him of transporting a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity. The charging document alleges that, on numerous occasions, Charriez-Rolon used his vehicle to transport John Doe to a park near John Doe’s school and to a swimming pool parking lot where he engaged the minor in criminal sexual conduct. The criminal complaint further alleges that Charriez-Colon told John Doe that he would beat him if he told anyone about it, that Charriez-Colon used his cellular telephone to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos of John Doe and that he showed a video where he was sexually assaulting John Doe to Charriez-Rolon’s friends.

A forensic analysis of Charriez-Rolon’s cellular telephone yielded several images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. During his interview, he admitted to transporting two other minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct.

Charriez-Rolon had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Bruce McGiverin on Monday. He was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting the outcome of his case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshal D. Morgan.

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) in June 2011.

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.