ICE arrests Trujillo Alto area man on child exploitation charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a man Monday in Bayamon for attempted production of child pornography and sexually enticing a minor.
According to court documents, from March 14 to on or about April 3, Ubaldo Badillo-Márquez, 57, of Trujillo Alto, attempted to sexually entice a minor whom he believed to be 13 years old to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The criminal complaint also alleges that Badillo-Márquez attempted to engage in criminal sexual conduct with the minor.
Badillo-Márquez had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille L. Vélez-Rivé Monday. He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case. The detention and preliminary hearings are scheduled for April 6.
“Enticing a minor into engaging in sexually explicit conduct is simply despicable,” said Ricardo Mayoral, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “Those involved in any type of child exploitation should know that HSI and its local and state partners will not rest until you are brought to justice.”
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.
Updated: