ICE arrests 2 Manati-area men for production, possession of child pornography
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Two Manati-area men charged with production and possession of child pornography were arrested Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents.
Noel Aquino-Florenciani, 37, and Luis Angel Rivera-Reyes, 20, both of Manati, were arrested without incident at their places of residence for their alleged possession and production of child pornography.
The two-count criminal complaint that charged Aquino-Florenciani alleges that he persuaded, induced or enticed a male minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The charging document also alleges that Aquino-Florenciani possessed child pornography.
According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 3, Aquino-Florenciani downloaded a sexually explicit video depicting an adult engaging in criminal sexual conduct with a toddler girl. HSI special agents identified Aquino-Florenciani as the person who downloaded the video and executed a federal search warrant at his residence Oct. 11.
On Dec. 15, an HSI computer forensics agent conducted an examination on one of the cellular phones seized from Aquino-Florenciani. The forensics analysis revealed images created on-or-about August 2013 of him engaging in criminal sexual conduct with a prepubescent male minor.
In the case of Luis Angel Rivera-Reyes, the criminal complaint alleges that he induced, enticed and coerced a 17-year-old female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The charging document also alleges that Rivera-Reyes threatened the minor with sending nude photographs of her to family members through Facebook.
“These two arrests are proof that HSI will go after those who commit crimes against our children no matter where, or behind what, they try to hide,” said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “HSI will continue to be committed to identifying and apprehending individuals who sexually exploit our children and deprive them of their innocence. It may take a while, but you will be arrested and brought to justice. A sexually explicit image of a minor will leave the young victim with permanent psychological, physical and emotional scars and we will simply not tolerate that.”
Both men had their initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Bruce McGiverin. The defendants were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting the outcome of his case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elba Gorbea and Ginette Milaes are prosecuting the cases.
The public is encouraged to call ICE HSI at 787-729-6969 or 1-800-981-3030 with information that may lead to the identification of additional victims.
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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