ICE arrests 2 Manati area men on child exploitation charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Two Enrique Zorilla public housing complex residents were arrested Tuesday in Manati for transporting minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with the Puerto Rico Police Department’s (PRPD) Arecibo Sexual Crimes Division, conducted the investigation that led to the arrests.
HSI special agents arrested Luis Melendez-Ramos, 21, and Byron Montijo-Maysonet, 29, following an investigation that stemmed from a referral by the PRPD Arecibo Sexual Crimes Division. The referral alleged that on or about Nov. 24, 2015, and Nov. 30, 2015, both men transported three female minors aged 13 and 14 to a local motel to engage in criminal sexual conduct. The criminal complaint also states that Montijo-Maysonet and Melendez-Ramos asked the victims not to say anything to the police about the sexual encounters because both men could go to jail and if that happened something bad would happen.
Both men had their initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos Lopez Tuesday. They were transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of the case.
“The identification, arrest and prosecution of those who exploit the most vulnerable segment of our society – our children – continues to be a priority for HSI,” said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “We will continue using our robust investigative authority and those involved in these heinous crimes should know that we will not rest until you are brought to justice.”
This investigation was conducted under 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 12,000 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 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
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. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. 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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