ICE arrests Puerto Rico DOE teacher on child exploitation charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Puerto Rico Department of Education (DOE) school teacher was arrested Wednesday for transporting a 14-year-old minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Puerto Rico DOE, conducted the investigation that led to arrest of the teacher.
According to the criminal complaint, on or about March 16, HSI San Juan received information from the Puerto Rico DOE’s Legal Division in Humacao regarding Yaria Tanies Cotto-Flores, 26, of San Lorenzo. The referral alleged that Cotto-Flores transported a 14-year-old male minor to a local motel with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct. The HSI investigation revealed that on March 1, the minor excused himself from school and walked to a restaurant where Cotto-Flores met him. The teacher then drove her minor student to a motel, paid approximately $30.00 for a room and engaged in criminal sexual conduct with the minor.
“These allegations are especially disturbing given the position of trust the defendant has occupied,” said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “Identifying people who violate their positions of public trust by contributing to the exploitation of children is a top priority for HSI. Anyone who targets children for sexual exploitation should also consider themselves a target by HSI and by our law enforcement partners regardless of who they are. We have an obligation to protect those most vulnerable in our society who cannot protect themselves.”
Cotto-Flores will have her initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sylvia Carreño-Coll on Thursday.
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 spare no expense to make sure that Puerto Rico 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.
Updated: