ICE arrests Bayamon resident for possession of child pornography

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Bayamon man charged with one count of possession of child pornography was arrested Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents.

Alexis Gabriel Rodriguez-Rivera, 26, was arrested at his place of residence in Bayamon following a federal search warrant that revealed the presence of child pornography in his computer. On Nov. 10, an HSI digital forensic agent conducted a preliminary forensic examination on Rodriguez-Rivera’s computer. The forensic examination revealed several videos of female minors of apparently five to 11 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct with what appeared to be adult males.

Rodriguez-Rivera had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Velez Rive on Tuesday. His detention hearing was scheduled for Nov. 16. The defendant was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting the outcome of his case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea is prosecuting the case.

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.